The Netherlands’ online gambling legislation may not make its February 12 vote date, if Tuesday’s Senate debate was any barometer.

Tuesday saw the Dutch Senate commence debate on the Remote Gaming Bill, which aims to launch an online licensing regime that would be open to international operators. The bill was approved by the legislature’s lower chamber way back in July 2016 but the Senate has always found a way to avoid discussing the measure.

Tuesday’s debate, which was hotly followed by Dutch affiliate Gaming In Holland, was split into two sessions (play-by-play coverage of which can be read here and here). In addition to the online legislation, the Senate was also debating the Casino Reform Bill, which aims to complete the (surprise) long-delayed privatization of Dutch land-based gaming monopoly Holland Casino.

Skipping ahead to the crux of the matter, while there initially appeared to be sufficient support to ensure the bill’s passage, the debate took an unexpected turn when senators demanded that Justice Minister Sander Dekker provide detailed, written responses to three questions.