Dutch parliament unveils amendments to Remote Gaming Bill
Proposals include prohibiting sportsbooks from taking bets on sports teams and athletes which they sponsor
The Dutch House of Representatives has proposed a number of amendments to the country’s Remote Gaming Bill this week, including a prohibition on operators taking bets on any sporting teams they sponsor.
Members of the lower house of the Dutch parliament are currently debating the long-awaited bill before it heads to the senate, and parties from all sides of the political spectrum have tabled amendments.
Earlier this week, Madeleine van Toorenburg of the Christian Democratic Appeal party tabled the proposal to prevent operators from offering odds on teams or athletes partnered with the brand.
“This is due to the potential of fraud and it was heavily criticised by, inter alia, the Dutch Premier League and Olympic Committee,” Justin Franssen of leading Dutch law firm Kalff Katz & Franssen said.
Meanwhile, other amendments to the bill proposed by the Dutch Labour Party include ensuring all advertising features clear warnings about the risks of excessive gambling and requiring operators to pay more towards a nationwide gambling addiction fund.
The House of Representatives began discussing the Remote Gaming Bill last night and the debate is to continue on 30 June ahead of a vote expected the following week.
News of the amendments come after the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) announced it would open up Netherlands’ online lottery market to non-incumbents for the first time after agreeing to process the licence application of Lottovate.
The regulator’s decision follows a landmark ruling by the Court of Amsterdam last month which said there was just no justification for limiting the amount of charity lottery licences to a certain number, which currently stands at four.