The European Commission has formally told the Netherlands to end the state’s monopoly on offering sports betting because it breaks EU legislation.

The Netherlands justifies its monopoly on all gambling saying it is necessary to keep out organised crime and to curb addiction.
However, the Commission said it considered the introduction ‘of new addictive games, intensive and increasing advertising, and the absence of concrete measures against gambling addiction constitute clear evidence of the absence of a consistent policy aimed at genuinely reducing gambling opportunities.’
Justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has two months to reply to the Commission’s request.