|
Dutch resond on gambling monopoly is not enough |
|
|
|
woensdag, 22 augustus 2007 |
|
Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has come to the conclusion that the Dutch government is expanding their own gambling market in blatant contradiction with European market rules. This is described in a letter that McCreevy wrote in March this year in a respond to the Dutch defence on their criticised gambling monopoly. This is in contradiction to what the Dutch government itself claims.
 Commercials
McCreevy argues that the Netherlands has wromgly informed him about the declining advertsing costs of De Lotto. The advertising would in 2004 and 2005 respectively be around 14.1 and 12.6 million euros while in annual reports amounts are mentioned which are almost half as high.
Furthermore, data from research firm Nielsen Media told that the number of ads from The Lotto has risen by 42 percent in between 2002 and 2004 and that the total duration of radio and television commercials has grown in that same order of size. A recent set standard is noting more than a masquerade according to McCreevy.
Gambling addiction
It also raises questiones about the nummer of gammbling addicts in the Netherlands which should be decreased. For the legal argument that regulated gaming should reduced illegal and criminal activities the Dutch government has no proof, he writes. McCreevy also points out the the total offer gambling games has grown in the last two the years.
Gambling Expansion
"Given the above, the Commission in spite of the response from the Dutch authorities believes that several factors suggest that the Dutch government is expanding their gambling market" McCreevy writes. Brussels therefore concludes that there are no reasons to ban legal gambling companies from other European countries to enter the Dutch market.
|
