Closure of 23 JVH Gaming casinos: Floor van Bakkum has mixed feelings
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13 Dec 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes A few days ago, an announcement sent shockwaves through the gambling world in the netherlands: JVH Gaming, the parent company of Jack’s Casino and the online platform Jacks.nl, announced the upcoming closure of 23 of its landbased establishments. The Flash Casino and Flamingo Casino brands, well-known to gambling enthusiasts, will close their doors. This decision was taken to offset the financial impact of the recent increase in gambling tax. Around twenty jobs at JVH Gaming’s headquarters will also be eliminated. This shows the extent of the damage caused by this tax increase.
While this sounds like good news to anti-casino activists, this decision still provokes mixed reactions. Floor van Bakkum, head of prevention at Jellinek, an organization specializing in the fight against addictions, shares a mixed view with the daily Brabants Dagblad:
“On the one hand, reducing the supply of gambling, an inherently risky activity, could lead to a drop in consumption. That would be good news. But, on the other hand, it could push some players towards online casinos or other establishments, potentially increasing the risks.”
The risk of online gambling, a more insidious danger
For Van Bakkum, the closure of physical casinos does not solve everything. Online gambling, unlike traditional casinos, is accessible permanently, everywhere: at work, on public transport or even at home. This ubiquity and the absence of time restrictions considerably increase the risk of addiction, according to her. Because online there is no closing time, you can play at any time, which makes this type of game even more dangerous. This concern is shared by several experts who point out that the shift to digital gambling can intensify addiction problems.
Local perspective
Last Friday, at Flash Casino in Veghel, one of the establishments that will close, the atmosphere was one of nostalgia. Among the few gamblers present, a 70-year-old local shared his experience:
“I come here two or three times a month. It’s a relaxing time, and I always set a limit of 100 euros. Today, my wife goes shopping, and I gamble a little.”
For him, the pleasure of gambling remains measured. Although he occasionally visits other casinos such as Holland Casino, he notices that these establishments have different rules, especially in terms of betting.
At another establishment, Flash Casino in Den Bosch, which will remain open, employees describe their role as going beyond that of a simple gaming provider.
“We create a friendly, almost family atmosphere. It’s like a non-alcoholic brasserie, where people come to relax and have fun, more than for the game itself.”
A changing industry
The closure of casinos raises a crucial question: how will players react to this reduction in physical offerings? The transfer to online gambling seems inevitable for some, despite the associated dangers. For others, these places offered a social setting and distraction, which is difficult to replace with a screen.
From an economic point of view, the closure of these establishments affects not only players but also employees who will lose their jobs and local communities who benefit from the spin-offs of these activities.