Dutch Internet Gambling Tax Clears Senate
Holland has cleared a proposed taxation bill that would allow the Dutch Government to tax games of chance such as blackjack and online craps. The government would also be able to tax those companies for whom the Dutch have prosecuted or attempted to prosecute. There is also a provision that would allow Holland to tax foreign customers.
Earlier this year the Dutch Senate narrowly rejected an amendment to the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act that would have given Holland Casino an exclusive license in the Netherlands to provide online gaming on a trial basis.
The Netherlands, much like the United States, has really turned up the heat on Internet gambling establishments in recent times.
It was just a few months ago that the Dutch government had asked banks to stop providing financial services to the targeted online casinos.
"It is illegal to offer gambling services in the Netherlands without a permit," said a Justice Ministry spokeswoman in the article. "These companies know they can break the law."
Sweden's Unibet and Dutch firm Oranje Casino have both been targeted by the government.
The exclusionary practices of the Dutch government are considered to be in direct opposition to the European Union. France, Greece and other European nations have also taken an active stance against online gambling in the last year however.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
