Hey guys,
first of all i am living few kilometers near the border of netherland in germany.
I am living my life, have friends and family in both countries.
I know mostly the politics and the history of both countries and I wanna share the reasons why games like lost ark are “forbidden” in the netherlands.
And I promise you most of you will be surprised!
------- History --------
Before we can talk about gambling in games I should explain a really important step in the history of netherland.
Few decades ago “offline gambling” (casinos,slot machines) were really attractive in the netherlands.
And its still really attractive nowadays.
It is still growing over the last years and people all over in europe are visitting the netherlands because of gambling and “plants”. Is a good combination.
But as i mentioned few decades ago the internet starts to exist and a new sector in gambling rised up called “online gambling” (slot machines on websites).
For the government this new sector was a big problem because it was tax free and the state didnt earn a single guilder.
And that is the reason why “online gambling” was banned.
They are still hunting illegal websites that are created over and over again.
------- Games with “gambling” -------
Because of the rise of “offline gambling” political lobbying was becoming more and more attractive and until today its a way to earn good additional money as an politican for supporting offline gambling.
And that is the simple and sad reason.
Games with Lootboxes arent banned in netherland because to protect gamers for “addictions” as an example. They are banned because of political lobbying for the beloved and supported “offline gambling”.
------- Casinos in netherland -------
Lets be fair. The casinos in the netherland are fair and well regulated by law. Netherlands casinos are legally obliged to averagely pay their clients 92% of bets in games and 80% while playing slot machines. But all casinos are part of a monopoly and the political lobbying is huge.
And so far my expierence is its pretty simple to visit them under the age of 18 if you know how or who.
tldr: Games with Lootboxes or gambling arent banned in netherland because to protect gamers for “addictions” as an example. They are banned because of political lobbying for the beloved and supported “offline gambling” (casinos monopoly). At all its all about the money.
I hope I dont read anymore that we should take the netherland as a example in terms of stopping gambling…