Holland Fights for the Right to Gamble

Online gambling companies continue their legal battles to open up markets and allow free competition around the world. While in the US their fight is against a comprehensive ban, in Holland as in other European countries it is against state-owned gambling monopolies, which they view as hypocritical and contrary to EU principles.

Progress
British gambling company Ladbrokes has been shunned by the Dutch government for years. Ladbrokes insistence to accept bets from Dutch residents will likely reach the European Court of Justice - the continent's highest court - sometime soon. This case has been going on for 7 years now.

Betfair too challenges Holland's law. The Dutch government targets player transactions through financial institutions, allegedly in breach of EU principles of free passage of goods and services. Betfair has decided to challenge this policy.

Setback
The EU Court has surprisingly ruled in September on the case of Portugal, which like Holland operates a state betting monopoly, Santa Casa. Bwin was banned from advertising on the Portuguese soccer league website. The court ruling said prohibitions "may be regarded as justified by the objective of combating fraud and crime."

Meanwhile
A study published on the Gaming Intelligence website says over 1 million Dutch men and women gamble in Holland, mostly doing so illegally.

The study was presented by Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin to the House of Representatives, who seems determined to fight the industry in his country.

Visit Online Casino Reports Holland for online gambling in Dutch.