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Dutch Citizens to Get More Live Poker

Minister to Expand Poker at Holland Casino but Many People Still Not Happy

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Dutch Justice Minister, Ernst Hirsch Ballin, has announced plans to expand the availability of live poker to Dutch citizens but Dutch players seem to be unhappy that the plan involves state gambling monopoly Holland Casino.

The minister wants to relax the Netherlands stringent rules on who can organise live poker tournaments, hoping that wider choice will help reduce illegal gambling, but DutchNews.nl says many players view the 14 casinos as too expensive and want to organise their own tournament which is illegal under Dutch law.

In a letter to MPs yesterday the minister admitted growing demand for poker among the countries citizens but said poker should be expanded within the realm of Holland Casino.

Opposition Labour MP Lea Bouwmeester is quoted by the website as saying she was “very unhappy” with the move and that it was not the right way to tackle illegal poker games.
In a poll on the site around 85 percent of respondents said people should be free to organise their own poker tournaments.

Around 575,000 people play poker in the Netherlands.