www.euroslot-online.com MARKET REPORT SUPPLEMENT
NETHERLANDS
The market analyst KPMG estimates that the the actions of the Dutch government.
combined effect of the increased taxation and Commissioner McCreevy said: “We announced
the smoking ban on the industry has led to a last year that at least 10 member states were in
T
he Dutch government introduced a new decrease in turnover of 16 per cent in arcades contravention of internal market rules on
law in 2008 that threatened to make life and around 32 per cent in single sites. The net gambling. There has been no progress at all.”
very difficult for those working in the turnover decreased even more; 29 % in arcades According to a letter from the European
gaming sector. Thanks to intensive lobbying and 47 % in single sites. Commission, the Dutch state monopoly on
from the gaming monopoly and issues with sports betting is illegal and infringes upon EU
European law, the new gambling law has not yet law. This letter has been kept from the public for
been passed and looks set to be put on hold
indefinitely.
The new gambling law
over a year, due to attempts by the government
to maintain the monopoly in order to combat
This has had a negative effect on the
industry, and this has been compounded by a
has not yet been passed
problem gambling and criminal activities.
smoking ban that came into force in the
summer of last year. Also on 1 July 2008 a new
and looks set to be put
taxation system was introduced. The VAT
system was replaced on hold indefinitely DATA supplied by the VAN trade association
with a gambling tax (29% of the cashbox).
The VAT system has effectively tripled the tax Number of AWPs in single sites: 22,453
burden on operators and has decimated the On the online gaming front, Betfair’s decision Number of AWPs in arcades:
industry, leading to redundancies and a lack of to bring the Dutch government to court due to single player: 14,442
new investment. The government has since its attempt to introduce an online payment ban multi player: 1,062
promised to make amends to the industry by has drawn the attention of EU Commissioner for Number of arcades: 273
easing the tax burden but nothing has come to Internal Market and Services, Charlie McCreevy. Number of single sites: 16.900
fruition as yet. The European Commission will be investigating
SEPTEMBER 2009
31
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34