Ladbrokes’ online gambling operation as it was not licensed in the Netherlands. A Ladbrokes appeal to the Dutch Supreme
Court was passed to the European Court of Justice in 2010. However, the Court ruled that while Dutch gaming legislationwas technically a restriction on EU rules guaranteeing freedom of movement and freedom to provide services a restriction was justified. Tis was because there was no harmonisation when it came to regulation of the online gaming industry in the EU and as a result it was up to national
1
authorities to decide on measures to provide adequate safeguards to their citizens. Te court in its ruling summarised that: “Such
a restriction may be justified, in particular, by the objectives of consumer protection and the prevention of both fraud and incitement to squander money on gambling, as well as the need to preserve public order.” Te court cited the same rationale for a case with its ongoing dispute with Betfair which had also been in a legal long running battle with the Ministry of Justice over the same issue.
The Kansspelautoriteit Market Analyse-Online 2015 report estimates 3.1 per cent of the Dutch population (between 242,000 and 437,000) play online. The share of online players is similar or lower than in Norway, Italy, UK and Denmark.
2
The online gambling market in the Netherlands is estimated to have a GGR of around €140-800m versus the land
Betfair argued that under the principles of the
European Treaty, it was entitled to accept bets from consumers in the Netherlands because Dutch consumers are allowed to bet online with the Dutch state operators and Betfair is a licensed operator in the European Union. However, the European Court of Justice ruled that member states can prohibit internet gambling firms from operating within their borders if local courts rule that a ban works against fraud and crime. Te European Court did however question the way in which De Lotto
based market of around €500m. It is thought there were some 565,000 online gambling users in 2011.
3
About five percent of players play once a day, 20 percent once a week, 28 percent once a month and 28 percent a few times a year. Some 49 percent play sports betting, 40 percent poker games, 24 percent slots, 20 percent casino and 14 percent bingo.
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /
247.COM P79
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 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100