Thread by @GamingInHolland

And we’re off again: second term of the senate debate on the Remote Gaming Bill and Casino Reform Bill.

Minister Sander Dekker will respond to issues raised by senators during the first term.

#DutchGamblingReform

Minister Dekker starts off by addressing Remote Gaming Bill.

Dekker stresses need for urgent reform: enforcement alone is not a realistic option.

#DutchGamblingReform

Dekker defends efforts of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, but it is (and cannot be) enough.

Dekker: there has to be a legal and regulated offering to make enforcement practical.

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"Players prefer legal offering."

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Dekker: regulation of online gaming successful in Denmark: open market + broad product offering -> high player channeling rate of ca. 90%.

Less successful in Norway: state-owned monopolist + narrower offering -> low player channeling rate of ca. 30%.

Postema (PvdA) suggests that a monopolist (Holland Casino?) offering a wide range of games could perhaps be a viable alternative to an open market.

#DutchGamblingReform

Dekker: Remote Gaming Bill will not harm beneficiaries of Dutch lotteries.

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Dekker: Doing nothing means that the black market will only continue to grow.

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Lots of interruptions right now by senators who/whose groups will not vote for the bill in any case.

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Strik (GroenLinks): Why not a ban on gambling advertising?

Dekker: Players must be made aware of legal alternatives to illegal offering.

Didn't we go over this already?

GroenLinks' votes may actually be gettable, but won't make a difference either way.

#DutchGamblingReform

Dekker: We can change ad regulations through secondary legislation, if need be.

Right now, it's a repetition of moves. We've heard (or read) all these objections many times before during the written parts of the legislative procedure..

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Van Bijsterveld (CDA): We prefer stricter regulations surrounding online gambling.

Dekker: Most of this is possible through secondary legislation, but relative attractiveness of illegal offering will increase if regulation becomes too strict.

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Dekker: "If we exclude everyone who has been active in the Dutch market, we will harm player channeling rate."

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However, Dekker raises possibility of blackout period for grey market operators.

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Dekker: those operators who deliberately targeted the Dutch market will not be eligible for a Dutch license.

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But are blackout periods legal? Van Bijsterveld (CDA) asks.

#DutchGamblingReform

Dekker promises to provide a detailed answer later tonight.

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Dekker promises to revisit the issue of IP and DNS blocking (which was stripped from the bill by the Lower House) at the first scheduled evaluation moment - 3 years after the bill comes into force.

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Dekker moves on to Casino Reform Bill.

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Dekker defends proposed privatization of Holland Casino.

But so far no new arguments. Doubtful that this convinces anyone.

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Dekker (paraphrasing): Remote Gaming Bill is extremely urgent, Casino Reform Bill "more like a suggestion."

Not exactly a spirited defense, to say the least.

Maybe he feels which way the wind blows?

#DutchGamblingReform

Menno Snel, State Secretary of Finance: "Now is a good time to sell off Holland Casino."

But Senate appears very much opposed to privatizing Holland Casino at any time.

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Postema (PvdA) adds: If we were to privatize Holland Casino, this would actually be a BAD moment, because we are likely to be busy with opening the online market.

Yet another indication that PvdA will support the Remote Gaming Bill.

#DutchGamblingReform

If this is indeed the case, the support of CDA will not even be necessary for the Remote Gaming Bill to pass.

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State Secretary Snel expects to initially collect €28m in online gambling taxes annually.

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Senators will now respond to Minister Dekker and State Secretary Snel.

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Oh boy. Senate wants detailed, written responses to 3 questions.

Minister prepared to send letter by Friday.

Debate hopefully to continue on Tuesday, February 12. But ucertain.

Vote on February 12 now in doubt.

That's it for today.

#DutchGamblingReform

The three questions are:

1. What is the exact definition of an "illegal operator;" and on what exact legal basis can operators who have already been active in the Dutch market be excluded from said market in the future?

#DutchGamblingReform

2. What specific measures does the Minister propose to restrict gambling advertising on websites and social media? On which legal basis?

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3. Which specific measures grounded in administrative law are available to block illegal gambling sites?

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To summarize:

1. Senate insists on blackout period for unlicensed operators currently active in the Dutch market.

2. Senate wants to further restrict advertising online and on social media.

3. Senate wants to revive IP/DNS blocking of websites of unlicensed operators.

Right now, it is not obvious that Minister Dekker will be able to provide answers that satisfy the Senate.

This certainly threw an unexpected wrench in the proceedings.

#DutchGamblingReform

While there is a majority for the regulation of online gaming in the Senate, it is now suddenly unclear whether there is also a majority for the specific proposal under consideration.

In any case, there will be an additional delay, Hopefully, it'll only be a few days.

But right now, who can tell?

#dutchgamblingreform

Well, that's it for today.

Hopefully, we'll have some positive news in a few days or so.