Dutch government dismisses anti-advertising proposals
Latest update to Remote Gaming Bill includes no watershed for online ads or ban on sponsorship of individual athletes
Operators looking to enter the regulated Dutch market will not face a watershed on online adverts, the Dutch Government has announced.
A series of anti-advertising motions had been tabled by the Dutch Lower House when it passed the Remote Gaming Bill back in July but the majority of these were dismissed on Thursday by the State Secretary of Security and Justice Klaas Dijkhoff.
It means there will be no watershed for online gambling ads or a ban on sponsoring individual athletes as suggested by the house, but there will be a ban on operators promoting live betting during sporting events – except on their own websites.
According to Dutch gaming lawyer Justin Franssen of Kalff Katz & Franssen, Dijkhoff believes the online watershed is too difficult to enforce and ultimately counterproductive.
“It’s good news for the sector,” Franssen added.
The Remote Gaming Bill must still be passed by the Senate, which Franssen said was likely to happen in Q1 2017 before a general election in March.
“The lights are light green,” he said. “The spirit is good and there doesn’t seem to be major opposition.”
Operators looking to enter the regulated market will face a uniform tax rate of 29% for land-based and remote gaming, with the regulator hoping to be able to take licence applications by H2 2017.