The Netherlands’ Gambling Authority, de Kansspelautoriteit has announced that it has fined Malta-based Tipico Co. Ltd. €531,250 for offering unlicensed gambling products and services to Dutch customers.
An investigation by the regulator found that Dutch customers were able to access unlicensed gambling games through the tipico.com website which is a breach of local gambling laws. The initial fine for this type of violation is set at €200,000. However, de Kansspelautoriteit decided to impose further penalties including several €75,000 fines for a series of breaches.
These breaches of Dutch gambling laws included:
- Offering bonuses to Dutch customers
- Offering a large range of gambling products
- Offering live betting
- Using an inactivity fee for local customers
- Failure to verify the age of players
The regulator also ordered the company remove access for Dutch players to its website.
The news comes just a day after de Kansspelautoriteit announced that it will target unlicensed operators with a raft of strict new measures designed to push local gamblers towards legal and licensed online gambling providers.
Although these new measures will not come into effect until November 1st, the regulator still has the power to fine international operators targeting the Dutch market prior to the launch of the country’s legal online gambling industry. From October 1st, operators who have been issued a license by de Kansspelautoriteit will be legally permitted to offer online gambling products and services. Any fines issued after that date will significantly more than those imposed on Tipico.
Gambling industry journalist with a background in online poker and trading. Covering the regulated U.S Sports industry and the exciting world of online poker.
