Unibet blackmails Dutch gov’t by tying cycling sponsorship to lower online tax

Online betting operator Unibet wants to sponsor Dutch cycling, but only if the Netherlands keeps its new online gambling tax at a reasonable rate.

On Wednesday, Dutch media reported that the Malta-licensed Unibet is set to take over as the new main sponsor of the Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU), but only if the government sticks to its original plan of taxing online gambling revenue at a rate of 20%.

Earlier this month, Dutch parliamentarians introduced revised plans for the launch of the country’s new regulated online gambling market. The original plan called for online revenue to be taxed at 20%, but the new plan ups this rate to 29%, similar to the rate demanded of land-based gambling operators.

In announcing the four-year, €7m sponsorship pact, KNWU chairman Marcel Wintels said it was contingent on Unibet receiving a Dutch online license when the new regime takes effect, which isn’t expected until July 2017.