Hard Rock casino boss criticizes NPO for ‘character assassination’ of online casino industry
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15 Nov 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Paul Strikers, founder of iCasino and Hard Rock Casino Online in the Netherlands, has fiercely criticized the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO) on LinkedIn. He accuses the broadcaster of putting the legal online casino industry in a bad light with one-sided documentaries and reports.
Strikers is responding in particular to a recent broadcast on Eva Jinek in which an ex-gambling addict was given the floor.
An inaccurate representation of facts surrounding gambling addiction
The documentary suggested that the legalization of online gambling would have caused a huge increase in the number of gamblers. According to Strikers, this conclusion is misleading. The interviewed ex-gambler was already active in the gambling world before legalization.
Strikers states that legalization has not increased the group of gamblers, but has made them more visible through strict supervision and regulation. He emphasizes that Dutch regulations are precisely intended to monitor and combat addictions.
Addiction issues and the broader context
A key detail that was missing from the broadcast, according to Strikers, is the broader addiction history of the ex-gambler. This person previously struggled with other addictions, which according to experts increases the sensitivity to new dependencies. Strikers calls this a missed opportunity in the documentary, which according to him wrongly identifies gambling as the sole cause and ignores the personal context of the addict.
CRUKS shows that Dutch regulations work
The ex-gambler said in the broadcast that he sought refuge in casinos in Germany after registering in the Central Register for Exclusion from Gambling (CRUKS). According to Strikers, this system, intended to protect vulnerable players, had done its job. He emphasizes that the player’s choice to subsequently go abroad cannot be seen as a failure of Dutch regulations. On the contrary, it proves that CRUKS is effective in protecting vulnerable gamblers.
Distinction between legal and illegal providers ignored
Another point of criticism concerns the claim in the documentary that the ex-gambler still received promotional emails despite his CRUKS registration. Strikers explains that this can only come from illegal providers, because legal casinos in the Netherlands strictly adhere to the rules. He finds it reprehensible that this nuance was omitted, which contributes to a negative image of the legal sector.
The government strives for safe gambling with legal providers
The Dutch Gaming Authority aims to have 80% of gamblers play with legal providers. This policy is intended to protect gamblers with tools such as CRUKS and strict advertising restrictions. Strikers warns that one-sided reporting such as that of the NPO can cause players to end up with illegal providers again, where there is no supervision and the risks are greater.
Eva Jinek under fire for unqualified statements
Strikers also criticizes Eva Jinek’s role in the broadcast. He accuses her of a lack of objectivity by stating that the legalization of online gambling is a fiasco. According to Strikers, such statements testify to a biased attitude that has little regard for the positive aspects of a regulated gambling market.