The Netherlands gambling regulator, de Kansspelautoriteit, has issued an order for periodic financial penalties to two unlicensed providers of online gambling products, Winning Poker Network and Goldwin LTD.
Both operators were previously warned about allowing Dutch players to access their online gambling products and services by the KSA. At the time, the regulator informed both companies that they would be subject to periodic fines if they failed to cease operating within the Netherlands.
According to the KSA’s latest investigation, Winning Poker Network’s americascardroom.eu was no longer accessible from the Netherlands, but a new account could easily be created on another website of the same provider, www.truepoker.eu. This made it possible to play on that website from the Netherlands. As a result of this violation, the KSA has imposed an order subject to periodic penalty payments of €25,000 per week, up to a maximum of €75,000.
GoldWin LTD offered players in the Netherlands the opportunity to gamble online on its website westcasino.com without meeting the KYC Casino processes. As a result, the company received a periodic penalty of €239,000, up to a maximum of €717,000. A follow-up investigation revealed that the the company no longer allows users from the Netherlands. However, the order subject to periodic penalty payments remains in force. If Goldwin LTD offers online games of chance to Dutch players again, the periodic penalty payment will once again be imposed.
René Jansen, chairperson of the KSA said of the latest fines:
‘It must pay off for providers of games of chance to offer their games legally. That is only possible if we take the wind out of illegal supply. We are fully committed to stopping these practices.’
This brings the total fines for 2023 to more than €60.2 million while the KSA’s fines make up almost €10.2 million of that figure. Gambling industry fines in 2022 came to €251,712,034 / $269,532,490 – a significant increase of 443.9% compared to 2021’s total of €44,753,969 / $48,642,992.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.