Barclays joins RBS in Dutch payments blockade

Posted on August 21, 2009 by CasinoBazar

The British government has denied reports that it is preparing to send a delegation to The Netherlands to discuss the Dutch policy on online gambling amid indications that Barclays has now followed RBS in restricting payments emanating from the country.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) said trade officials had no current plans to visit Holland to chase up the recent letter authored jointly by BIS and the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) protesting at Dutch restrictions applied against British internet gambling companies.

A report on the Dutch news website NU.nl had indicated that UK trade minister Lord Davies of Abersoch was due to lead a delegation of UK gaming companies to Holland this autumn to discuss the Dutch policy with the country’s justice minister, Ernst Hirsch Ballin. The Dutch news service even quoted a source as suggesting that Minister Hirsch Ballin would welcome the trip in the wake of last month’s letter.

Until recently it was thought that only the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) had elected to comply with the Dutch justice minister’s request. But industry sources now suggest that Barclays has recently followed suit, and is similarly restricting online gambling payments in Holland. A Barclays spokesperson said: “We are aware of the (1964) Dutch Gaming Act and will work with our customers to ensure they fully understand the requirements of the Act.”

“We don’t have any such law whatsoever [banning online gambling payments],” said Justin Franssen, partner at Dutch law firm Van Mens & Wisselink. “This is just the political interpretation of the minister of justice.” Franssen added: “Mr Hirsch Ballin has said that they will be focusing on Dutch financial institutions and most of the Dutch banks are playing this with a straight bat. It’s funny to see British banks trying to comply with something they don’t have to comply with.”

Source: GamblingCompliance