The Netherlands gaming machine industry is expecting the publication of new regulations governing machines in pubs and arcades this month.
The new and modified regulation should come into force from July 1, 2011 and it is an open secret in the Netherlands that it will enable cashless gaming, but it is also expected to introduce new types of machines.
The Netherlands permits gaming machines in casinos, pubs and arcades with the arcades sector the strongest currently, although very high taxation introduced two years ago has decimated the profitability of the industry.
The proposals in the new regulations will include some relief for the embattled industry with an additional category of machine with a higher prize, available in both arcades and pubs. The condition for this machine is that the hourly average loss is below €30 and the payout is above 70 per cent. The maximum prize in pubs would then be 300 times the maximum stake of 20 eurocents and in arcades would be 400 times the same maximum stake. It would give prizes of €60 and €80 instead of the current maximum of 40.
Frank Otte of the testing organisation Trisigma, said that the new regulation - if it is in the expected form - would open up new opportunities for the Dutch industry in its domestic market. "We are very busy currently carrying out testing approval procedures for the new regulations with a new and dedicated laboratory to handle the work."
