In a recent statement (24-2-2012, The Hague), the Dutch government (supreme court) decided that the gambling monopoly by the Dutch Lotto is not in violation with the European law of free traffic of goods and services. Therefore, the dutch court decided that foreign online gambling websites (Pokerstars, Unibet, Ladbrokes..) should be banned from dutch players.

This probably means that within a couple of days/weeks, Pokerstars is going to prevent dutch players from playing before they get their dutch licence.

Article in dutch:

http://fd.nl/economie-politiek/51660...nders-op-zwart (Doesn't work for some)
http://www.nu.nl/internet/2751248/bu...and-zwart.html
http://www.rechtspraak.nl/Actualitei...Ladbrokes.aspx

Google translate:
http://translate.google.nl/translate...and-zwart.html
http://translate.google.nl/translate...s.aspx&act=url

This is obviousy disastrous for online poker in Holland, there is no single alternative.

Discuss...

dutch=netherlands? was thinking about moving there at some point for the hookers.

Not for the "coffee shops"? Besides that ... next attempt in the Netherlands to attack online gambling, just funny that their monopoly doesn't violate EU law but the German one does.

Sickening

North Holland and South Holland?

another 6million+ people denied freedom!

Was'nt there a post several months ago, where the Dutch Governement had defined poker as "skill game" and was not considered gambling? The article did lean towards betting sites, and had a small mention concerning poker sites.
Other side of the coin it wouldnt take much for Stars to get a licence in the Dutch Antilles.

At this point, it is still vague what implications this has for online poker though, because the court specifically spoke about online sportsbetting and online 'gambling'. Poker is still considered as a form of gambling in The Netherlands (players have to pay 29% tax of their winnings every month, even though it is officialy 'illegal' to gamble on offshore sites), so it should also effect sole poker websites like PokerStars, but especially sites like Unibet, Partypoker, 888 and so forth)

16.723.347 million people

not many fish came from netherlands i dont think so whatever

It will be intreasting to see how many of the online gambling casino commercails will get pulled in the next few months. But all in all, I fear more from governments seizeing the internet as a whole, than licence restrictions. Every EU country is in a hole right now..... guess who wants to extract $$ from, those countries that are making $$ from thier citizens.

And one plant.

FYP

Thanks...lol yeah its the american in me.

posting to sub

This sucks.

Dutch players are generally awful

FYP

Relax, the conclusion is wrong and this doesn't change a thing.
Can't even trust NOS no more, bringing this story without checking the facts first;

http://www.stiog.nl/wp-content/uploa...7-feb-2012.pdf

Small sample bias? If you check the country ranking on PTR, "this year" or "all time", Netherlands is doing relatively well amongst the European country. I don't expect much change in terms of toughness online at any rate.

Still sad news, it doesn't help online poker as a whole.

U better ban pot, all the Dutch will be great players then!

Things seem to change month to month and it's hard to get a definitive answer about anything regarding the legality and taxation of online poker in the Netherlands. I recently met with a tax consultant based in Utrecht and they had no clue how to proceed as a player. Anybody have any comments on this article?

Dutch Court Rules Regarding Tax Liability on Poker profits for players in Favour of Freedom of Services for Online Gaming (Art. 56*TFEU)

http://taxandpoker.com/2012/05/31/du...g-art-56-tfeu/

hollandish players are **** let them back on, we wnat them

Dude, was it your goal tonight to just make as many trollish/ignorant posts as possible? If so you are doing great. A+

Some more info here, there was a conference held in Amsterdam on June 5th to discuss the future of online gaming in the Netherlands.

Gaming in Holland Conference 2012 Review

http://calvinayre.com/2012/06/14/ent...e-2012-review/