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The government' s policy in the Netherlands with regard to gambling and compulsive gambling. An evaluation - The analysis made in this article proves that the government's policy in the Netherlands with regard to gambling and compulsive gambling is to a great extent inconsistent. The authorities take it for granted that there is a causal connection between gambling and compulsive gambling and therefore take the view that a reduction of the number of gambling facilities automatically leads to less compulsive gambling. That is an unfounded statement; as a matter of fact we don’t know, as a result of what, one person becomes addicted to alcohol, nicotine, drugs or gambling and the other doesn’t. Combatting it can therefore only be effective by a radical prohibition of all facilities, but that is not feasible and it has no social basis. Moreover, government promotes some gambling facilities and forbids others. That is because of its revenues, e.g. from the State Lottery. We can conclude from this that a progressive policy is pursued with a view of financial interests and because of a moral interest, namely the value of games, whereas the repressive policy is directed against illegal gambling, compulsive gambling and the criminality connected with it The practicability of the government’s policy is called to our attention, and in particular the overcharging of the authorities. A more consistent policy however, would be that the government showed more reserve by permitting all long odds and by also allowing short odds a certain amount of freedom. At the same time regulations are to be preceded by a functional analysis, with the help of the net balance rate, lest employment and (small) companies should disappear without rendering account for this. As long as prevention of addiction is not possible, government should forcefully support aid to cure.
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How to Cite: Kuiper, G. (1995) “Overheidsbeleid in Nederland met betrekking tot gokken en gokverslaving: een evaluatie”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen. 40(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95216