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added on 2010-08-25 04:37:29
The Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, who runs the Commission Jansen – the advisory group assembled on 11th of September 2009, has urged the Dutch government to give up gambling monopoly and to licence private operators.
The Commission's final report calls for a licensing system for poker operators only. The report excludes sports betting, casino style games and bingo. The Commission's proposals would prevent offshore online poker companies from targeting Dutch players. Also, the Commission's report says the internet service providers should block access to their websites.
The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which represents the world's largest remote gambling operators, considers the Commission's final report, published on 23rd of August by the Ministry of Justice, as an inadequate first step in light of changes occurring throughout the rest of the Europe.
“This is clearly a missed opportunity to follow the same path as other jurisdictions, such as Denmark, which do not seek to discriminate against different forms of gambling and recognise that all are capable of being properly regulated. Given that de Lotto offers sport betting, this appears to appease the lottery operator by limiting the opening to poker only,” said Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the RGA.
The Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin wants Holland to follow the recent example of Italy and France, which regulated their online poker market, paving the way for the unregulated European markets, such as Spain and Sweden. He also noted that sports betting and the national lottery are already legal in the country and that he sees no reason for poker to be treated differently.
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