I tried to get a answer by posting this question at MW but got nowhere real fast

[buddyboy]

Here is the same question (hopefully the discussion here will be a little more productive)

Is this misleading?

Curaçao is part of the Netherlands Antilles.

Why do some sites say that the sportsbooks there are licensed (or governed, ruled by) Dutch Law?

Is it because they don't understand or are they trying to mislead the public?

In 1634 Aruba and Curaçao become Dutch possessions. Then in 1642 Bonaire became a Dutch possession. In 1828 Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Dutch Guiana united as Dutch West Indies.

The year 1848 was the year that these Islands united as Netherlands Antilles.

In 1922 the Netherlands Antilles became an overseas province of the Netherlands.

From 1940 to 1942 they were a British protectorate
From 1942 to 1945 they were a U.S. protectorate
Then around Decemeber 1948 they again became part of the Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles).

Here is an interesting fact, on December 29th 1954 the Netherlands Antilles becomes autonomous .

Definition of autonomous: independent, self-governing, sovereign -- (of political bodies; "an autonomous judiciary"; "a sovereign state")

Guess what happened on January 1st 1986? Aruba became a separate dependency.

In late 1993 Curaçao votes to remain part of the Netherlands Antilles and in late 1994 Saba, Sint Eustatius, Bonaire, and Sint Maarten also vote to remain part of the Netherlands Antilles.

The Netherlands Antilles has full autonomy in internal affairs. The Dutch government is only responsible for defense and foreign affairs.

Saying that sportsbooks there are governed by Dutch law is like saying that companies in Canada are governed by British law.

 

[TIGER]

buddyboy...are you bored???

 

[Buzzsaw]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The Netherlands Antilles has full autonomy in internal affairs. The Dutch government is only responsible for defense and foreign affairs.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> But all major court cases are sent to the mainland, right? Seems like there is more than just foreign affairs and defense...

 

[Fishhead]

I have no idea.

Sure somebody here will have an opinion on this. (Lander?)

 

[buddyboy]

no I don't think major cases are 'sent' to the mainland. That court is used as an appeals court, they do not try cases there.

The Legal authority is exercised by the Court of First Instance and by the Joint High Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

If you have a list of cases that are 'sent' to the netherlands to be tried I would love to see it.

anyway back to the point, misleading people.

isn't it misleading to tell people that one country is the governing body of a business when in fact it is another?

The only reason someone would want to tell a person that a business is licensed and governed by Dutch law when in fact it is licensed and governed by Antillean law would be to deliberaly decive or they are honestly ignorant of the facts.

 

[Buzzsaw]

It's a good qustion. I'm in the ignorant group for now. Your post above was very good. IB, you are in Curacao, what can you tell us?

 

[IntuitionBET]

Buzzsaw - The newly elected government here in the Netherland Antilles wants the Netherland Antilles to be completly independant from Holland. So I guess that means we are somewhat under their rule. See below:

The joke of this request is that the Netherland Antilles goverenment and economy is Always broke and that the newly elected Minister Mr.Godette had to immediatley step down when elected because of corruption etc and put his sister in his place and she has no education and can't even speak Dutch. She has a first grade education I am told. So Holland doesn't even reconize her, and her requests.

The biggest problem we have here in Curacao anyways is that the local economy is broke and the local government has no money and they are dependant on Holland to keep giving them money. But when ever Holland does that the corrupt government (not all is corrupt I am told) sticks most of it in their pockets and Holland is tired of that. One issue is that we need a new water system as the pipes we have now have been broken for years and Holland did give milions to the government here (they are NOT Dutch by the way) but of course most of the money dissappeared and the new water lines were never installed. I think they may be trying to start this again but they need money.

So if this Government here thinks they should be indepndant how are they going to pay for everything just to keep it running yet alone do the work to the infrastructure that is crumbling away as I write this?

The courts here in Curacao follow Dutch law. Which is old and the procedures are outdated and many laws are don't really exist to protect an inoccent from a shrewd operator like we have in the states and many parts of the world. They don't even have court reporters in the court I am told. So to appeal a case is sort of a joke because you have no accurate record of what went on in the court room. So it's best to stay away from the courts if you can.

Bottom line is if you are Dutch you have a better chance of winning every case that you start or is brought against you ESPECIALLY if it's against an American. This is what I am told by many Americans that have tried before and have since left the island.

So this so called case between Royal and this promoter autigere will probably go in Royal's favor as "That's just the way it is" and the Dutch behind royal probably know that. LOL

Aruba is totally independant and is surviving becuase they have a very strong tourist economy and don't need all the handouts that Curacao needs because of the bad economy and gov't corruption.

So Yes Curacao is separate from Holland but CPMPLETELY dependant on them for financial HELP.

Kind of like a 40 year old that never moved out from his parents and still lives at home.

But we are hoping this will change soon, maybe with the next election.

[This message was edited by Intuition BET on October 30, 2003 at 01:30 PM.]

 

[Chadster]

Thanks

 

[buddyboy]

that island sounds like a mess. if a player has a dispute with a dutch owned book it sounds like the dutch owned book would win (that's even if it makes it to the court)

so by saying that a book is licensed by the Dutch government is misleading. It would be more proper to say that:

"this book is licensed by the Netherlands Antilles. If you have a dispute with this book there is a slim chance that you could go to court and win. If you loose in court then you have an even slimmer chance to appeal to a Dutch court located in The Netherlands."

Instead of:

Netherlands Antilles - Is one of the safest areas in the world for offshore gamers. Unlike many gaming commissions, which are nothing more than partners, the Dutch Gaming Commission is a strict enforcer of the rules and well known as being "player friendly".

 

[Buzzsaw]

That's a heck of a quote Buddy!!

You at least HAVE a commission there and so the statement is factual for this part of the world.

Compare it to the Costa Rican Gaming Commission

 

[IntuitionBET]

I'm NOT sure about that. Maybe that is why they created CIGA to help with disputes but I am not sure how much power they have.

There is a gaming control board here for the lotteries and brick and mortar casinos but they have no power over the Sportsbooks and casinos online.

I do hear that may change very soon.

But most of the BIG books here in Curacao are honest and will NOT cheat you. Pinnacle and VIP are two of them.

 

[WEEKENDALKI]

Buddy boy, that is quite a poignant post. A little too poignant for my alcohol residual synapsis. I guess my problem is that all I care about is Pinnacle staying open and continuing their great service. Oh well, call me a simpleton.

 

[IntuitionBET]

buddyboy - I would think that a CUSTOMER of a business here, whether it be a sportsbook or whatever would be able to take that business to court if the business owed him money. He would definately have to have records of course to back everthing up and if it looked kosher he would most likely WIN.

Collecting would be another issue as the sportsbook would have to have funds to pay him of course.

And as I stated above the Gaming Control Board will soon have power over the Online Sportsbooks, which means if a complaint is issued and it appears warranted they can go into the office of the book at anytime without interference and do a suprise audit. Or seize the operation, which means no more Aces Gold situations.

So to sum it up here in Curacao you have CIGA (which is voluntary) and soon the Gaming Control Board will be regulating online sportsbooks soon.

You are better off playing at a Curacao book than one in Costa Rica where it's like the Wild West and not much is enforced.

 

[Sodium Pentethol V]

Hahahaha

yea a real jurisdiction with teeth,

hey IB,

why not ask them then why every book there is in violation of their liscense,

you know the part,

where to obtain a Curacao liscense you agree to keep players funds in a separate escrow?

 

[ignorant]

Then why books in Curaçao do not accept wagers from players based in Holland?!

 

[IntuitionBET]

ignorant - Yes that's right. Any online book or online casino located here cannot have Citizens from Holland as customers, and any online book or online casino cannot allow citizens from Curacao to play online. Curacao citizens have to play at the brick and mortar Casinos and Sportsbook located on the island.