Although the Dutch were planning the legalization of online gambling and opening up the new market in 2011, this is not what has finally happened. Moreover, gambling does not only remain illegal for the Dutch, but according to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, providers are bound by law to forbid Dutch players from playing.
Apart from this, the Supreme Court also gave notice that their decision does not oppose the EU politics concerning the free stream of services, whch needed to be emphasized because of a certain Ladbrokes-affair.
Although Ladbrokes did not actually operate in the Netherlands, the national Dutch lottery establishment was concerned about these companies providing online gambling services for Dutch residents, without a legit licence. This is why they took the issue to court. Court got to the conclusion that limiting these companies' rights to operate can be considered a violation of the free stream of services, but it can be justified by doing it with the aim of ruling out fraud, or stopping residents from spending too much on gambling. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands referred to these reasons when making its decision.
They have also come to the conclusion that it is not the Internet providers' responsibility to control and block online gambling services; this hass to be done by the rooms themselves. And if they don't, they can count on legal consequences. Banks were also asked not to allow transactions between black-listed online gambling providers and Dutch clients, although doing so does would not be a legal issue.
The ruling of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands is definitely the best for the Dutch national lottery firm, which now has a monopoly over lottery, poker and sports betting in the Netherlands.
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