Dutch banks do not cooperate with gambling limit casinos
The Dutch government is investigating various avenues so that an overarching playing limit can possibly be set for the Dutch. Various solutions are being sought for this, including the Dutch banks. This turns out to be more difficult than initially thought.
The Dutch banks do not cooperate in setting a gambling limit for their customers. The government is currently conducting discussions in this context, but according to the NOS, the banking industry indicates that it does not want to monitor the gambling behavior of their customers.
Set gambling limit
Minister Weerwind of Legal Protection has promised the House of Representatives that he will hold talks with the banks to discuss options for setting a gambling limit at the banks. The reason that banks prefer not to cooperate with this is for privacy reasons.
Ronit van der Schaaf (Dutch Banking Association):
“We see the scale of the number of people with problematic debts, but we are surprised that the solution to these problems is left to the banks.”
Politics is considering a law regarding the setting of a gambling limit. It may be years before this law comes into effect. That is why there was the idea that banks could play an important role by being able to intervene when a player deposits a lot of money to an online casino.
The National Rapporteur on Addictions (Nationaal Rapporteur Verslavingen) also advises calling on the banks for help.
Banks are not legally allowed to monitor transactions. However, they are allowed to do so in the case of money laundering or terrorist financing.
Ronit van der Schaaf (Dutch Banking Association):
“At the moment we can’t just look at that and that’s a good thing. Privacy is very important to us and our customers.”
Credit Registration Office (BKR)
The ministry is also in discussions with the Credit Registration Office (BKR). For example, gambling companies could be obliged to first check with BKR whether someone has gambling debts before they are allowed to gamble. This route also appears not to be easy.
A spokesperson for BKR:
“It is a very complex matter and a (technical) connection of gambling providers requires a lot of time and attention.”
Gambling on credit with a credit card
According to the banks, other solutions are easier to implement without their help.
Ronit van der Schaaf (Dutch Banking Association):
“We see other solutions, such as limiting advertising and tackling the issue of purchasing gaming credits with your credit card. These solutions are faster, more effective and also cheaper.”
In Great Britain it is forbidden to gamble with your credit card. This is allowed in the Netherlands.
A spokesperson for Minister Weerwind:
“The question is whether limiting the use of credit cards is effective against excessive online gambling.”
Players can transfer money from their credit card to a checking account and then use that money to gamble online. The ministry states that there are no signals of excessive use of credit cards. They prefer solutions that can protect a large group of players. Entering gambling limits via your bank account is seen as a more effective route.
Not only in the Netherlands there is discussion around the role of banks in the gambling ecosystem. In Belgium, some banks are actively resisting against the gambling sector.