Dutch gaming operator Holland Casino, with 14 casinos in the Netherlands, says it has policies in place to prevent problem gambling, but does not actually track player losses.
That admission has called into question the company’s commitment to responsible gaming, particularly in light of a local news story about a player who lost €250,000 at one of the operator’s properties.
According to iGamingBusiness.com, the report prompted Socialist Party politician Michael van Nipsen to ask if a tally of such losses is shared with customers, and if Holland Casino alerts gamblers who are exhibiting signs of compulsive gambling.
Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said, “When asked, Holland Casino informed me that it does not register the winnings and losses of players on a structural basis. It is therefore not possible to give a player a printout of those amounts after a playing session.”
Instead, Dekker said, “Holland Casino’s prevention policy is aimed at early identification of risk and problem behavior. It uses various indicators for risk analysis, and the frequency of visits is automatically registered. If a player is at risk of gambling addiction, the gaming behavior is monitored more closely, but even then, it is not possible to draw up an exact balance of the amounts won and lost.”
Dekker said the collection of personal data “must keep pace with the risks that arise. This follows from the statutory duty of care, which means that licensees take measures and facilities that are necessary to prevent gambling addiction as much as possible.”
When pressed, he said casinos log other details like VIP drink and food preferences, but only with the consent of players.
He declined to comment on whether the company’s responsible gambling policies are adequate, saying that would be a question for gaming regulator the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
Dekker acknowledged that “there is room for further improvement of the assurance of addiction prevention,” and said this was why the Remote Gaming Act contains new, stricter player protection requirements, including the self-exclusion system Central Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (Cruks).
The Remote Gaming Act will come into force on March 1, 2021. It calls for a license fee of €48,000 (US$57,000), up from €45,000.
