Gambling in the Netherlands: an update

Anneke E. Goudriaan, Ph.D.Department of Psychiatry,UvA, AMC, Amsterdam

a.e.goudriaan@amc.uva.nl

agoudriaan@gmail.com

Gambling in the Netherlands

17 million inhabitants

Point prevalence of pathological gambling: 0.75% (estimation)

Annual turnover of gambling revenues:

2 billion US Dollars

180 million US Dollars state tax income

Source: LADIS 2001,Dutch Ministry of Finance,IVV

Casino’s and gambling arcades

12 casino’s in 2003/4, 14 Casino’s in 2010

280 gambling arcades:

18.000 slotmachines (arcades)

17.000 outside arcades

7500 in casinos

Ambivalence: State regulation

Last years (1995; 2007; 2009):

more restrictions to comply with court sentences:• Protecting market from international

companies: • Protection of open market vs. open market

policy

Examples of restriction

Main sponsor: Holland Casino Major League (2002-2005)

Prohibition of television – phone games (2007)

No internet poker gambling trial through Holland Casino (2009) or other internet gambling sites

Gambling in NL compared to other European countries

% of GGR EU member states (2000-2004)

% of GGR Netherlands (2004)1

Lotteries 44.6 34.5

Casino gambling 14.6 28.7

Slot machine gambling outside casinos

18.8 362

Betting 17.2 0.75

Bingo 4.8 0.53

Year Net Revenues Taxes Costs1996 344 68 3701997 374 76 4031998 414 84 4491999 458 92 5002000 468 105 5482001 517 128 6442002 540 144 7322003 606 148 7472004 643 144 7322005 579 190 7312006 560 217 7672007 583 224 7832008 538 210 8662009 557 191 821

Gambling Arcades outside casinos (2009)

Research commissioned by the Dutch Gambling Regulation Board

Results:

Number of arcades similar over last 10-15 years

Larger arcades:

More slot machines and player terminals per arcade (2001-2008)

Introduction of multiplayer machines, automated casino games -> more similarity to casino’s

50% of municipalities with gambling arcades have an active gambling addiction prevention policy

Numbers gambling arcades

Gambling arcades

Number of machinesNumber of multiplayer

Number of player seats

Number of gaming machines

Revenues

2008: smoking prohibited in bars, restaurants, casinos

Economic crisis?

Lower gross and net revenues in casinos and arcades:

Lower number of visitors

Lower net revenues per slot machine

Distribution of treatment 2008

Large cities:

More gambling opportunities

% Change in treatment gamblers 2005-9 vs 2000-4

Decrease in pathological gamblers in treatment between 1996 and 2004:

What about the years 2005-2009?

Number of persons in addiction treatment 2000-2009

Age of gamblers in treatment

www.gamingboard.nl www.toezichtkansspelen.nl

Thank you for your attention!

Questions…

Email (reprints articles): a.e.goudriaan@amc.uva.nl

agoudriaan@gmail.com

Acknowledgements:

Colleagues/collaborators: Wim van den Brink, AMCJaap Oosterlaan, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, NLEdwin de Beurs, LUMC, Leiden, NLKenneth J. Sher, University of Missouri, USAEmily R. Grekin

Funding: -ZonMw (National Institute for Health Research, the Netherlands)- NWO (Dutch Science Institute)