The word coming out of the Dutch gaming industry is that the proposals to dispose of the government-owned Holland Casino is coming into sharper focus following the elections last week.
The Liberal Party, the VVD, won the general election, followed by the Labour PvdA and the anti-Muslim PVV. A new coalition government is thought to be pro-gaming industry, according to our informants in the Netherlands. A promise by the previous government to look closely at the Holland Casino monopoly will now move closer to reality.
We understand that the chain of 14 casinos will be broken up, rather than sold to one entity. In 2009 Holland Casino contributed €164m to the country’s treasury.
Also under the spotlight will come the licence to operate internet casinos which was granted to Holland Casino.
Another piece of gambling news to emerge from the Netherlands this week is that the government is looking seriously at permitting poker games in pubs. It would come in the form of live card games, rather than video poker machines, however.
