Dutch Online Casino Ban Draws EC Anger
The Dutch plan to mimic the US UIGEA by placing criminal penalties on the processing of payment transactions to online casinos has caused a stir. First Internet gaming operator Betfair sued, and now the European Commission is threatening to pursue international court action against the online gambling ban.The order by the Netherlands Ministry of Justice to banks to refuse transactions involving Internet gambling sites is seen as a protectionist measure to shelter Dutch gaming monopoly De Lotto. EU rules require member nations to allow foreign competitors to offer any services legally provided domestically.
"We believe the Dutch are in direct contravention of the rules of the internal markets and will be investigating the matter," said Charlie McCreevy, EU Internal Markets Commissioner. McCreevy cited the Dutch as among the most intransigent of the EU countries currently in violation regarding Internet casinos.
Fed up with a lack of response to findings of non-compliance, McCreedy is saying the European Court of Justice may be the next step in enforcing EU trade policy.
"We announced last year that at least 10 member states were in contravention of internal market rules on gambling," McCreedy stated. "While many members have engaged, the Dutch has completely failed to."
While such European groups as the Remote Gaming Association have filed complaints against the UIGEA with the EC, iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan, Jr., says Washington lawmakers won't pay much attention to EC demands until their own situation is put in order. Brennan asserts that tidying up the EC mess is necessary before Congress considers gambling trade violations a serious issue.
