Only since 1976 it was possible to go to a casino in the Netherlands to play roulette, blackjack or one of the so many other casino games, legally. Over the last 40 years, 13 new casinos were opened throughout the country under the name Holland Casino.
The strange thing though, the only shareholder: The Central Government of The Netherlands!
Although I do understand the WHY legal gambling was implemented under state control, it is in fact pretty strange:
One of the most important tasks of Governments is to provide safety of and for their citizens, but in The Netherlands they also own services an companies that may causes unwanted effects such as gambling additions and money laundering.
Gambling Addiction & Money Laundering Prevention
You should know that our casinos have to operate within strict guidelines determined by the government and our parliament. Gambling addiction and money laundering prevention are key topics in all rules the casinos need to operate under. A program was developed between Holland Casino and the addiction prevention institutes of our healthcare system with key elements being: registration of all vistors, monitoring and when required intervention. Intervention can be: denial of entrance, limited visiting rights, face-2-face intervention talks, and referral to relief agencies and institutes. All personnel of Holland Casino is continuous trained to identify gambling addictions and to apply and execute the intervention methods. To counter money laundering, the casinos are required to report to a government agency when unusual transactions occur. Unusual transaction include bank transfers and purchase of chips with a value larger then 15.000 Euro.
Liberalisation of Gambling
Since 2011, the Dutch government started the process to liberalise the legal gambling market, under which also the privatisation of Holland Casino company. Parliament recently agreed to the privatisation. Now only the Senate needs to pass the new laws. 16 licenses will be granted to the market, 14 for the already existing casinos, and 2 new. Competition is enforced by not granting the licenses to one company.
Interesting fact in the privatisation are the increasing voice of the employees (around 3.000 in total); Led by their unions, fearing of loosing their jobs, they try to stop the whole process of privatisation.
Will we get Las Vegas type of gambling? Very likely not, since the casinos are not allowed to bring in mass entertainment; Shows with widely known entertainers are for instance not allowed. Bonus and loyalty programs are not allowed as well, as the casinos are not allowed to operate in areas where similar services are offered.
Wish you Happy Gambling; When not in a Casino, Then with Stocks or Cryptos :)
PS: Stellar is going Crazy!
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