Operators of land-based gaming machines have filed an official complaint with the European Commission against the proposed Dutch remote gaming bill.
The complaint is aimed against the differentiated tax rates for land-based (29%) and remote gaming (20%), which amount, according to the complainants, to illegal state aid for online operators.
A spokesperson on behalf of State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff stressed that differentiated tax rates for online and land-based gaming in other European countries have not previously led to any intervention by the European Commission.
Yet, even if ultimately unsuccessful, the complaint may create sufficient uncertainty (with regard to tax liabilities and costs) to discourage established international operators from entering the Dutch remote gaming market, leaving more room for home-grown, land-based operators looking to expand online.
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