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Netherlands Senate Debating Online Gambling and Holland Casino Privatization Bills
The Netherlands Senate is about to proceed with discussions on several bills that aim to propose important changes to both the online and land-based sectors of their gambling industry. The regulations were already approved by the House of Representatives, but have seen little evolution in the upper chamber of the country’s main legislative body since then.
The countries upper legislative forum is set to debate today on the above-mentioned bills as well as on a recently penned letter by Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker that revealed an agreement on an important provision in the country’s Remote Gambling Bill had been reached between legislators.
House of Representatives of the Netherlands approved the Remote Gambling Bill two years ago, back in 2016. Altogether, the bill allows for the regulation and liberalization of the Netherlands’ online gambling market. Foreign online gambling companies will be able to apply for licenses and operate in the regulated environment.
The piece of legislation needs to be approved by the Senate in order to come into effect as a law. In a letter from last week, Minister Dekker informed the House of Representatives that they had agreed on the physical presence provision included in the bill. Under lawmakers’ agreement, gaming and betting companies based in the European Union or the European Economic Area will not be required to establish offices in the Netherlands in order to be allowed to operate in the country. However, companies located outside the EU/EEA will be obligated to have physical presence in the country.
The much-needed clarification in relation to the physical presence language in the Remote Gambling Bill was considered by many as the final big hurdle before the long-delayed consideration of the piece in the nation’s Senate.
As mentioned above, members of the Senate Committee for Justice and Security have included Minister Dekker’s letter as well as the bill itself in their Tuesday agenda. It is yet to be seen how much attention the gambling matter would be paid to today.
Privatization of Holland Casino
The committee is also discussing another matter mainly the privatization of Holland Casino, the nation’s land-based and state-run operator.
The Dutch House of Representatives approved early last year a bill on the matter and it is now up to the Senate to act on the planned privatization of the casino operation.
Under the legislative piece, Holland Casino’s ownership of fourteen land-based casinos across the nation would be split in branches. Ten would remain part of the Holland Casino brand, while four would be sold separately. Two additional casino licenses are planned to be issued under the proposed bill.
Under one of the provisions, the private operator that would purchase the ten venues would not be allowed to obtain any of the other six available licenses. The privatization of Holland Casino would be reviewed and evaluated five years after its completion under other another language. The country’s government is expected to reap over €1 billion from the move.
Source: CasinoNewsDaily
Latest News
Playtech Expands LeoVegas Partnership to the Netherlands
Playtech has revealed the extension of its partnership with LeoVegas in the Netherlands, marking a significant development in their collaboration.
LeoVegas will now provide Dutch players with access to a diverse selection of Playtech’s acclaimed Casino Slots and Live Casino games. This expansion follows successful integrations in various regions, including the UK, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Ontario, Italy and globally on LeoVegas.com.
Remko de Boer, Netherlands Country Manager at LeoVegas Group, said: “We are excited to bring the Playtech catalogue to the Netherlands! We look forward to providing our Dutch customers with the greatest igaming experience through Playtech’s renowned Casino Slots and Live Casino games.”
Diane Crookes, Senior Commercial Director at Playtech, said: “The partnership between LeoVegas Group and Playtech continues to grow stronger. Our partnership with LeoVegas has been a key part of our growth strategy, and we are delighted to continue this journey as we expand into markets and explore new opportunities.”
Latest News
3 Oaks Gaming presents a feature-rich trip to the Far East in 3 China Pots: Hold and Win
Distributor extends 3 Pots series with Asian-themed title
3 Oaks Gaming, an established distributor of iGaming content, has launched 3 China Pots: Hold and Win, the first time the company has integrated the popular 3 Pots mechanic within a Far East-themed title.
The latest instalment from 3 Oaks to incorporate the 3 Pots functionality sees players transported to the allure of the Orient, where the Extra, Double and Multi modifiers influence the Bonus Game once activated.
To trigger the Hold and Win round, Bonus symbols depicting the different pots are added to the progress meter within the main game. Enough blue icons open the Extra Feature, where four respins are awarded instead of the standard three. Red symbols unlock the Double Feature, which activates two game boards, while the purple Multi Feature adds multipliers to random cells.
The Extra, Double and Multi Pot features can all be triggered simultaneously, enhancing the win potential to new heights when the modifiers work in combination.
Additionally, the game’s Mini, Minor and Major Jackpots may appear during the Bonus Game and reward the corresponding cash value, with the Grand Jackpot worth 2,000x also awarded when the entire grid is filled within the Hold and Win mode.
Yuriy Muratov, Chief Commercial Officer at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “3 China Pots: Hold and Win takes users on a mystical voyage to an opulent palace, where players can uncover a wealth of riches thanks to the captivating 3 Pots mechanic.
“The 3 Pots mechanic continues to grow in popularity and incorporating it within such a popular slot theme will only broaden its appeal to a wider audience.”
Gambling in the USA
Nebraska’s First Permanent Casino to Open in May in Columbus
Nebraska’s first full-fledged, newly built and state-sanctioned gambling casino is slated to open in Columbus next month, marking a milestone in the state’s rollout of casino gambling.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission last Friday approved a target opening date of May 13 for Harrah’s Columbus.
“This is a big deal,” commission Chairman Dennis Lee said.
The state’s three other casinos are open, but in temporary facilities. According to construction schedules, all should be open by early next year.
“We’re definitely excited to open the first permanent casino in the state,” said Don Ostert, Harrah’s Columbus general manager.
The 17,000-square-foot casino floor will feature 400 slot machines and 11 live table games, including roulette and craps, Ostert said. It will feature a Brew Brothers restaurant and will offer Caesar’s sportsbook and racebook, Ostert said.
For racing fans, the complex will feature the state’s only 1-mile horse track, though racing isn’t scheduled to begin until August 16. By June, officials hope to have some horses out on the track to test the new surface.
Ostert said officials hope to draw customers from Norfolk and Grand Island, but also from Omaha and Lincoln.
Columbus Mayor James Bulkley said that, from the city’s standpoint, “we are very excited to see it get started and become part of the community.”
The developers incorporated some Columbus history into the casino, he said.
“The location where it is used to be called Wishbones, and it was a venue for years for entertainment, and so people recognize that name, and they have kept that name for the sports bar,” he said.
He expects the casino will draw from Omaha. Although driving to Columbus from downtown Omaha might take close to an hour and a half, the drive from west Omaha is more like an hour, he said.
“I can hit Elkhorn in a short hour today, which is now western Omaha,” he said.
In a few months, Omahans won’t have to leave town to visit a brand-new casino.
At Horsemen’s Park in Omaha, Warhorse Gaming officials are aiming to open their new casino in early August. It will open with 900 gaming positions, including table games and a Sweetwater Cafe.
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