Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has intensified its regulatory efforts by issuing enforcement notices to Winning Poker Network and Goldwin for operating without the necessary licenses in the country.

Winning Poker Network, following an investigation in September 2022, was found to allow Dutch players to participate in online casino games through its platforms, including americascardroom.eu and truepoker.eu.

Despite previous assurances to discontinue these practices, a subsequent inquiry revealed that a separate account could easily be created on TruePoker, enabling continued access for Dutch players. As a result, KSA has imposed periodic penalty payments of up to €75,000 on Winning Poker Network until the violations are rectified.

Goldwin, operating through its platform WestCasino, was also discovered to offer online gambling services without the appropriate license.

KSA found evidence of Dutch players accessing the site between March 2022 and February 2023, prompting the issuance of penalties. While Goldwin has since cleaned up the offending material, it remains subject to further penalty payments if it re-engages in unlawful activities. Both Winning Poker Network and Goldwin have the option to appeal these decisions.

René Jansen, Chairman of KSA, underscored the importance of legal compliance among gambling providers, emphasizing that a regulated market can only be achieved by curbing illegal operations. The KSA is committed to protecting consumers and maintaining the integrity of the gambling industry through rigorous enforcement actions.

The KSA’s enforcement efforts have been ongoing this year, with several operators facing penalties for various infractions. Recently, Bingoal, an online gambling provider, received a second financial sanction amounting to €400,000 for targeting young adults (aged 18-24) with their advertisements. This followed a €350,000 penalty in February when players were able to access the site without consulting the Cruks self-exclusion system for a limited period in June 2022.

As the KSA continues its regulatory campaign, operators are urged to abide by the licensing requirements and consumer protection measures set forth by the authority. Compliance with these regulations is crucial in establishing a safe and responsible gambling environment in the Netherlands.

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The Kansspelautoriteit, the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, has once again warned incompliant operators. This time the violators are the National Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij) and the Friends Lottery (Vriendenloterij), which were found guilty of offering games they didn’t have licenses for.

As announced by the KSA, both parties offered products that are not permitted under their existing licenses. As a result, the regulator asked the companies to take down the problematic offerings, warning the operators that they risk penalties if they fail to comply.

According to the KSA, the penalty the companies might receive is $268,000 per week, up to a maximum of $1,073,175.

The Companies Offered Online Gambling

The Kansspelautoriteit noted that the National Postcode Lottery’s website offers a selection of games that could be considered to constitute online gambling. This includes a variety of titles such as Deal or No Deal, Suitcase Hunt, ONE against 50 and Move That Truck.

According to the regulator, such games are not covered by the lottery license that the National Postcode Lottery holds, meaning that its offerings breach local regulations.

The Friends Lottery, on the other hand, offered several titles, such as Club-man and Bingo crush games, that are also considered online games of chance. Like the National Postcode Lottery, the Friends Lottery lacks the appropriate license to legally offer such titles.

The Kansspelautoriteit warned the operators that it will not hesitate to impose the aforementioned fine, should they fail to remove the illegal offerings from their websites.

The Netherlands Wants to Separate Lotteries from Gambling

The Dutch regulator noted that it is very important to have a clear distinction between low-risk lottery titles and high-risk games of chance, such as online gambling. Because of that, the country has different licenses for the two verticals, as well as certain rules that are designed to reinforce the difference between lottery and online gaming.

For example, online lotteries are strictly forbidden in the Netherlands- instead, gambling companies can only sell participation tickets online.

However, the games that the National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery offered are clear examples of online gaming that is unlawfully linked to lottery companies. The Kansspelautoriteit once again noted that this is prohibited and concluded that it will make sure that the distinction between the two verticals remains clear in order to protect customers from harm.

The Lottery Companies’ Response

The National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery commented on the warning, announcing their decision to appeal the Kansspelautoriteit’s ruling. They claimed that the games they offer are safe and designed to help raise funds for good causes, just as per their licenses.

The two companies also noted that the extra games they offer do not offer instant rewards to the players. Instead, like in a traditional lottery, a draw takes place and players can only receive prizes after that. Because of this, the National Postcode Lottery and the Friends Lottery believe their products are completely legal.

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The gambling regulatory authority in the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), announced it imposed a hefty fine against Hillside New Media Malta, a Bet365 company, operating currently in the country. Details regarding the €400,000 ($373,600) regulatory penalty against the operator emerged Friday. Upon announcing the sanction, the KSA claimed that the operator breached the rules related to advertising to young adults.

Per the current Dutch regulatory framework, advertising targeting young adults, aged 18 to 24 is prohibited. Keeping in mind that this target audience is yet to mature, the law restricts gambling operators from engaging in such advertising. A prime reason for this restriction is that young adults can be vulnerable to easily developing a gambling addiction.

“The brains of young people are still developing. As a result, they are extra vulnerable to developing gambling addiction. Gaming providers must fully respect the rules intended to protect vulnerable groups,“

reads a statement released by the KSA

The new fine comes after the KSA probed into Hillside’s operations. According to the regulator, young adults, aged 18 to 24, registered with the company between October 26, 2021, and February 1, 2022, were contacted with ads offering bonuses. Considering the existing regulations, the KSA said that such interactions are prohibited and therefore enforced the €400,000 ($373,600) fine. At the same time, the regulator noted that this is the third fine imposed against an operator due to advertising to young people.

“The KSA found that Hillside had directed advertisements and bonuses to young adults (18-24-year-olds) registered with Hillside in the period from October 26, 2021 to February 1, 2022. That is prohibited. This is the third fine for a permit holder for advertising aimed at young people,“

explained the KSA

A Busy Period for the KSA

The latest fine against Hillside comes after last week, the KSA introduced another financial penalty against Gammix. According to the regulator, the company offered its services to Dutch customers without the necessary license. That breach dated back to last year but the operator was given a chance to remedy the situation. Since no remedial action was taken by Gammix, the KSA ordered the company to pay a €4,410,000 ($4.7 million) fine.

Before that, earlier in March, the KSA announced fines against five operators surpassing $27 million. The regulator said that the fine comes after it uncovered that the operators offered their services without a license for the Dutch market.

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