Netherlands passes remote gaming bill

The lower of house of the Dutch parliament has today (Thursday) passed a bill to regulate online gaming in the country for the first time.

The bill is widely expected to be given full approval by the Dutch Senate later this year and could be in place as early as 2017.

Amendments to the approved bill include a prohibition on lotteries and land-based operators from using their existing player databases to promote their online offerings.

Land-based companies will also be required to erect physical entry and player identification barriers, as well as contribute to a problem gambling fund.

Commenting on the news, Jaspar Hoekert, co-founder of Revenue Engineers, a full-service gaming consultancy based in the Netherlands, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see the Dutch Remote Gaming Bill finally pass through parliament.

“While there are some aspects of the legislation which are not ideal, this is still a very workable framework and I am confident that the Netherlands will quickly emerge as one of Europe’s most important gaming jurisdictions.

“For any operators or providers looking to make the most of this new opportunity, it is important to act quickly and seek local expertise.”

Related article: Dutch MPs want uniform tax for gambling