NOSGamble on mobile phone
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 06:50
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Nik Wouters
editor Economics
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Nik Wouters
editor Economics
Dutch banks will not help the government to set a gambling limit for customers. They want to protect the privacy of customers and do not want to monitor their gambling behavior.
Minister Weerwind of Legal Protection had promised the House of Representatives to ask banks to do more to prevent gambling problems. A first meeting between the ministry and banks is planned this week. The National Rapporteur on Addictions also advises asking banks for help.
But banks don’t like that at all. “We see the scale of the number of people with problematic gambling debts, but we are surprised that the solution to these problems is left to the banks,” says Ronit van der Schaaf, of the Dutch Banking Association.
Privacy
Politicians are working on a law to set gambling limits, but it could take years before it is introduced. The idea was that banks would be able to help more quickly. If a gambler transfers too much money from his account to gambling companies, banks should intervene.
Banks are required by law to check that money from accounts is not being laundered or used for terrorist financing, but apart from that they are not allowed to monitor transactions. “At the moment we cannot just look at that and that is a good thing,” says Van der Schaaf. “We and our customers value that.”
The ministry is also conducting discussions with the Credit Registration Office (BKR). For example, gambling companies could be obliged to first check with BKR whether someone has gambling debts before gambling is allowed.
BKR says that this will not be arranged quickly. “It is a very complex matter and the possible connection of gambling providers therefore requires a lot of time and attention,” said a spokesperson for BKR.
In a debate with the House, Minister Weerwind referred to British banks that make it possible for customers to block payments to gambling companies. According to Dutch banks, such a plan is not in the works here. In addition, there is a national register, Cruks, where people can register for a gambling stop.
Gambling on the money
The banks say there are other solutions, without their help, that are easier to implement. “We see other solutions, such as limiting advertising and tackling cash gambling with your credit card. These solutions are faster, more effective and also cheaper,” says Van der Schaaf.
In Great Britain it is not allowed to gamble with your credit card, but this is allowed in the Netherlands.
“The question is whether a restriction on the use of credit cards is effective against excessive online gambling,” says a spokesperson for Weerwind. Gamblers can transfer money from their credit card to a checking account and then gamble that money online.
Moreover, according to the ministry, there are no signals that credit cards are being ‘excessively’ used. “The ministry prefers solutions that can protect a large group of players.” It therefore sees gambling limits via the bank account as a more effective route.
2024-04-09 04:50:42
#Banks #monitor #gambling #behavior #Politics #solution
