Former Sheriff Gaming execs handed jail sentences

The fate of former Sheriff Gaming execs Stijn Flapper, Maurice Gregoire and Michel Gregoire was concluded in a Dutch court this week, after over six years of investigations and police action (see previous reports) according to local media reports that the trio have been convicted and given sentences of imprisonment for illegal gambling, money laundering and tax evasion in a criminal gambling enterprise that laundered around Euro 123 million generated by other illicit and serious criminal activity.

Former CEO of Sheriff Gaming parent group Bubble NV, Stijn Flapper, was handed a two-year jail sentence, along with Michel Gregoire, and Maurice Gregoire will spend 15 months in jail.

In addition, the three men face the possibility of heavy restitution fines of Euro 100,000 each;  the taxman has called for another Euro 13 million in unpaid tax from a group company, and the Dutch state has its eye on millions of Euros worth of assets it seized in the 2013 shuttering the Flapper empire.

Other, less severe punishments were handed out to the Bubble tax adviser (7 months imprisonment) and a number of associates including Flapper’s mother, who will have to perform community service.

In related news, Dutch press reports indicate that the nation’s ridiculously delayed online gambling legalisation proposals may at last be again moving forward. The long-debated measure has been passed by the lower house of parliament (two years ago) but has been bogged down in the Upper House, however the reports reveal that the Remote Gaming Bill will be debated (again) on February 6 with a final vote (hopefully) following on February12.

After previous delays and disappointments over the past decade, cynics could be forgiven for predicting another unexpected hiatus in the bill’s tortuous progress.

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