|
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News
Poker News - Poker News
Search News:
Netherland Banks Object to Policing Online GamingFri, Nov 21st, 2008 @ 12:00am Echoing the many objections raised by the American banking industry to policing the UIGEA, representatives of the Netherlands Bankers Association (NVB) similarly told Dutch Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin that his plan to use Dutch financial institutions to police online poker and Internet gambling sites is neither practical nor legal. Minister Ballin had told the Dutch Senate that he would stop the hundreds of millions of Euros leaving the country to foreign internet gaming operators, with the help of the Dutch financial system.
"The Minister wants us to become an extension of the Justice system, but that is not the role of the banks," quoted NVB spokesperson Michel Noordermeer in a Gaming Intelligence Group article.
The NVB is aware that the European Commission has threatened to bring countries to the European Court of Justice for not complying with EU rules entitling EU-licensed companies to do business across EU member states. It already has Holland in its sites (click here for related article). So the NVB has said they would be more willing to cooperate if the Justice Minister first successfully brings an online gaming operator to trial in the Netherlands. They take that position because, "We do not see such a thing happening under the Betting and Gaming Act, especially in light of European legislation," said Noordermeer. He added, "Under these circumstances, the banks will not refuse to accept gaming companies as customers."
A Ministry spokesperson dismissed the NVB's comments saying: "Justice bases itself on Dutch law in fighting illegal internet gaming and there is no room for free choice on the side of the banks. European law has no influence on this."
BANKS ALSO QUESTION 40.85% ONLINE GAMING TAX The financial community also raised questions about the online gaming tax regulations passed in September which treat national and foreign providers differently, in breach of EU law. The bill taxes online games of chance, which online poker is considered, at a rate of 40.85%, to bring them in line with taxes on live casino table games. (click here for related article).
Gaming Intelligence Group noted that members of the House of Representatives also repeatedly called on the Justice Minister for an update on the status of new gambling legislation. Mr. Ballin told the Permanent Committee on Justice of the Dutch House of Representatives earlier this month that the legislation will contain a number of new elements, conceding that recent EU developments had forced him to re-examine the proposal.
"The comments made [on the legislation] in the consultation phase, as well as other events which took place in the first half of 2008, have led me to further re-examine the Dutch system," Ballin said. "I refer to the Senate's rejection of the bill regulating online gambling, the EC's Reasoned Opinion, and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling by the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State and the Supreme Court. I have come to the conclusion that the policy needs adaptation on a number of issues, not just to increase support therefore, but also to ensure consistency and coherence with European law."
Mr. Ballin said he planned to present full details of the proposed legislation to lawmakers before the end of the year, but added that the legislative process would now most likely be delayed.
The proposed legislation will focus on the harmonization of gambling regulations, introduction of a model distribution system for gaming proceeds, creation of an independent gaming authority outside of the Ministry of Justice, a review of gaming machine regulations and a ban on foreign online gaming providers.
Read Related Articles:
More Poker News Articles
PokerStars Launches New UK and Ireland Poker Tour PokerStars.com has announced the start of a new poker tour with stops throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) will kick off in Galway, Ireland in mid-December, and the first event in the UK will be held in Manchester in February.
Peerless Media Agrees to Purchase World Poker Tour Enterprises According to a Monday press release, WPT Enterprises Inc., mothership of the World Poker Tour, is now the rightful property of Peerless Media, Ltd., subsidiary of online giant PartyGaming.
Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho Hit the Amazing Race Rail After surviving six legs of the Amazing Race by the skin of their teeth, poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho were finally eliminated in the CBS reality show's most recently aired episode. Michelle and Ho, the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Events, gave reality television fans another chance to watch poker personalities compete away from the felt. Annie Duke garnered quite a following earlier in the year on another reality show competition, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.
Isaac Baron Dominates Caesars Classic Main Event Isaac "westmenloAA" Baron ran over the final table of the Caesars Palace Classic $5,000 Main Event, amassing a huge chip lead and going home with the $246,928 first prize. It took two long days to narrow the 162-person field to the final ten. A very high percentage of the entrants were recognizable tournament circuit players, and unsurprisingly, the stacked field produced a tough final table lineup.
Tonight- ESPN shows Day Before WSOP Main Event Final Nine are Set- Oct 27 Tonight (Oct. 27) at 9pm ET, ESPN will broadcast highlights of action on the day before the Final Table of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event was set. Only 27 players remain when this one-hour show begins.
Frenchman Wins PokerStars EPT Warsaw Poker Tourney At the PokerStars European Poker Tour Warsaw No Limit Texas Hold'em main event that wrapped up yesterday, French businessman Christophe Benzimra finished first taking home 358,644 Euros in prize money, while Italian poker pro Alfio Battisti finished second in the tournament.
Vedes Conquers WPT Festa al Lago Final Table Tommy Vedes is the WPT's newest champion! Vedes outlasted 274 players to win the Festa al Lago title and the $1,218,225 first prize. Freddy Deeb, who began the final table with the chip lead, hoped to win his third WPT title and tie Gus Hansen's record. Instead, Deeb was forced to settle for 4th place, leaving room for a new WPT champ. Click here for in-depth coverage of the action and photos from the final table.
Will Hungarians Get Taxed on Poker Soon? Hungarian lawmakers have plans to tax poker winnings and regulate clubs to generate much-needed revenues during the country's worst economic crisis since the end of communism, reports Germany's Deutsche Weele.
Freddy Deeb Leads World Poker Tour Final Table The WPT Festa al Lago Main Event is down to the final six after five tough days of play. Two-time WPT champion Freddy Deeb brings the chip lead along with the benefit of his under-the-lights experience into Monday's televised final table. Deeb previously won the WPT Season III Aruba Poker Classic and the Season VII Celebrity Invitational. He also owns two World Series bracelets and has amassed over $6 million in tournament winnings. A win on Monday would add $1,218,225 to that total. Click here for photos from the felt and final table chip counts.
11 Remain in WPT Festa al Lago Main Event The fourth day of the Festa al Lago WPT $15,000 Championship began with 37 players, just ten eliminations away from the money. Though action was painfully slow at times, it hit break-neck speed before the end of the night, leaving only 11 players standing heading into Day 5. Click here for Day 4 photos and chip counts. |
 Online Poker »
Poker News »
Blog Coverage
Top News
PokerStars Launches New UK and Ireland...
Peerless Media Agrees to Purchase World... Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho Hit the... Top Tournaments
|
Discuss this article in our forum
Print this article
All Poker and free play poker content ©2009 Advanced Global Applications, LLC. All rights reserved.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, visit either: National Council on Problem Gambling or Gamblers Anonymous International Service