Gambling.co.uk: Gambling News Archive

Dutch Court Upholds iGaming Ban

Ladbrokes loses battle to offer gaming to Netherlands

Wednesday 23rd February 2005

The Dutch Supreme Court has upheld a ban against foreign companies offering internet gambling to Dutch citizens. Ladbrokes had attempted to contest the prohibition previously imposed by a lower court, arguing that it amounted to a violation of the free movement of services within the EU. Ladbrokes has said that it has a fundamental right to offer services across borders just as mainstream businesses do.

The court disagreed and ordered Ladbrokes to cease offering bets to anyone with a Dutch IP address, a move the bookmaker says will victimize customers who live outside the country but use a Dutch service provider.

The Netherlands’ restrictive gaming policy dictates that a percentage of all gaming profits have to go towards charity funds. The government owned De Lotto, the company that brought the original case against Ladbrokes said: 'This ruling is most important for a number of other cases running in the Netherlands against illegal gambling sites, such as the English Betfair and the Austrian Interwetten.'




Source: OnlineCasinoNews