Currently, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gaming authority, is in charge of the regulation of gambling activities in the country. Monitoring constantly the legal offering for Dutch clients, the gambling regulator also ensures that customers in the country are not targeted by operators without a license. On Monday this week, the KSA confirmed it imposed a $1 million fine against an operator it says offered services to Dutch customers illegally.

The fine imposed by the gambling watchdog is against MKC Limited-owned betworld247.com. The hefty €900,000 ($954,300) monetary penalty comes after the regulator uncovered that the operator offered online games of chance without the required license. Gambling operators that accept customers from the Netherlands must hold a permit in order to offer games of chance. Operators that do not hold such a license operate in breach of the Dutch Gambling Act.

In the case against betworld247.com, the KSA said that its investigation uncovered that Dutch customers were able to register with and participate in online games of chance. According to the gambling regulator, the operator hasn’t taken any technical measures to prevent customers from the Netherlands to register. Such proactive measures can include blocks for Dutch IP addresses or rejection for customers who tried to register with Dutch address details. Moreover, the KSA’s probe into the operator uncovered that the “age of participating players was also not visibly verified.”

“The Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed a fine of €900,000 on MKC Limited for offering illegal games of chance. Dutch players could participate in online gambling on the website betworld247.com, owned by MKC Limited. MKC Limited does not have a permit for this and is therefore in violation of the Gambling Act,“

explains a statement released by the KSA

Users Submitted Their Age without Proper Identification

Recently, KSA’s chair, René Jansen, confirmed his plans to resign in 2024. Announced earlier this month, the decision comes at a time when his term is set to expire. Jansen explained that he doesn’t plan to reapply for the role, meaning that the Dutch gaming authority is likely already looking through applications for a new chairman. Additionally, the current chairman is reaching retirement age at the end of the year, another reason that likely motivated him not to reapply for the role.

“At MKC Limited, players could enter an age themselves without clear identification. This means that their website is also accessible to very vulnerable, underage players.“

René Jansen, chairman of the KSA

Focusing on the latest penalty against MKC Limited, Jansen said that the website enabled users to submit their age themselves without the necessary identification. According to him, this enabled the website to offer services to vulnerable groups such as underage individuals. Jansen deemed this as a “culpable offense” and once again warned that the illegal gambling market lacks the robust player protection that is otherwise mandatory for the regulated sector.

The post KSA Sanctions Betworld247 Owner $1M over Illegal Offering appeared first on Keno Wizard.

PokerMatch International has released an official commentary on the sanctions against PokerMatch Ukraine. The company’s Ukrainian subsidiary was included in a list of companies that were sanctioned for alleged ties with Russia.

PokerMatch Ukraine was one of 287 companies and 120 individuals that were just sanctioned by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Despite regretting the decision, PokerMatch International said that it doesn’t expect the sanction to impact its global business.

We would like to inform our partners that these sanctions have no impact on the international operations of the PokerMatch brand. The company is not abandoning its plans to develop new regions and continues to provide its existing customers with a full range of services, including fulfilling all its commitments.

PokerMatch International statement

PokerMatch Has Done a Lot to Develop Poker in Ukraine

PokerMatch said that it believes the inclusion of its partner in the sanctions list is a mistake since the PokerMatch brand was one of the first gambling companies to block the accounts of Russian players. In addition, the company said, it was also one of the first companies to block all assets of Russians across its platforms. Lastly, PokerMatch terminated its existing partnerships with Russian companies.

In addition to sanctioning Russia, PokerMatch also helped Ukraine by donating to the Ukrainian army and suffering families.

PokerMatch International continued by pointing out that it played a key role in the revival of sports poker in the Eastern European country. In addition, the poker brand helped Ukraine’s National sports poker team take part in the world sports poker championship in Dublin – an event from which it emerged victorious.

The global poker brand also pointed out that it has supported the opening of numerous clubs in Ukraine.

PokerMatch Hopes Ukraine Will Change Its Mind

PokerMatch International reasserted that it is “devoted” to Ukraine and its people and hopes that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will rethink its stance.

We have no doubt that the honest name of the partner will be protected by all available legal means and the state will change its position in relation to the company, devoted to Ukraine.

PokerMatch International statement

Despite everything, PokerMatch congratulated Ukraine on protecting its people from Russian influence amid the ongoing war. The poker company admitted that this demanding undertaking isn’t mistakeproof. However, PokerMatch reasserted that it hopes Ukraine would be open to dialogue and fixing its alleged mistake.

The post PokerMatch Hopes Ukraine Will Lift the Sanctions against Its Local Arm appeared first on Keno Wizard.