Labour party MPs have added their voices to calls for the state-owned casino monopoly Holland Casino to be sold, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.

The party says the casino operation has not succeeded in keeping gambling addiction under control and is transforming itself into a large-scale entertainment company with the aim of encouraging more people to gamble.
‘We have to get away from the Las Vegas in Holland idea,’ said Labour MP Lea Bouwmeester in the Telegraaf. ‘The government should not be running an entertainment company.’
The government says a state-owned monopoly is the best way to cut addiction to gambling and counteract money laundering.
Socialist party MP Arda Gerkens told the Volkskrant Holland Casino management is going against its own charter. ‘The whole top layer is busy with getting more gambling products into the market,’ she said.
The Liberal party VVD also backs the sale of the casino group.
Holland Casino has been hard hit by the economic crisis. Earnings fell by 83% last year to €14m while visitor numbers fell by 15%. The smoking ban has also affected casino earnings.
The Holland Casino group is currently advertising a €35 ‘try-out package‘ which lets prospective gamblers have a go at all the different gambling games on offer at its 14 casinos nationwide.
MPs will discuss gambling legislation on Tuesday afternoon