Netherlands to licence online poker

The Netherlands, one of the most restrictive nations for online gambling in Europe, looks set to introduce online poker licences for private operators, following an influential government report.

The Dutch Ministry of Justice published the findings of its advisory group on updating the country's gambling legislation, and it called for a licensing regime for poker operators only and not sports betting or casino games.

Online gambling in The Netherlands is currently restricted to the state monopoly De Lotto, which has previously banned private operators such as Ladbrokes from operating within the Netherlands.

But the advisory group said a monoploy approach would not work for online poker as it would be too hard for the state-owned operator to compete effectively against the 'illegal' private operators.

'The Commission doubts that a single new entrant in the poker market will be able to capture a significant market share based on the illegal operators, and sees a monopoly and therefore an insufficient basis for a successful [site],' a Ministry of Justice statement said.

'This regime should be explicitly designed to bring some of the current illegal poker operators under a legal regime.'

The report also noted online poker was an easier sector to tax and was less likely to lead to gambling addiction.

It will now be up to the Minister of Justice to decide if the Dutch government will take on the recommendations.

The full findings of the report can be read here http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/persberichten/2010/08/23/persbericht-eindrapport-adviescommissie-kansspelen-via-internet.html