Dutch regulator fines Bwin

The gambling authority from the Netherlands imposed a fine of €350k on ElectraWorks for offering online gambling through bwin.com.

Netherlands.- Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the gambling regulator from the Netherlands, has announced a €350k fine on ElectraWorks Limited. The company, based in Gibraltar, received the fine after offering online gambling through bwin.com.

KSA’s research showed that online games of chance appeared through bwin.com for a certain period of time. The site, which focused on Dutch consumers, featured a large selection of sports bets on the site. It was also possible to play live casino games such as roulette, blackjack and poker.

Offering such online games without a proper licence from the KSA is not legal in the Netherlands. Under the current Gambling Act, it is not possible to obtain a licence for online gambling.

KSA stopped online gambling ads on 23 sites

KSA revealed that it stopped online gambling ads on 23 sites. This comes as part of the watchdog’s periodic research into affiliate marketing.

The Netherlands regulator analysed 44 websites as part of the study, and online gambling advertising appeared on 26 of them. Twenty sites stopped the illegal activity after the KSA drew attention to it, and three only did it after the regulator threatened to impose a penalty. KSA said that the investigation is still ongoing at the other three websites.

“Those sites receive money if they click through to the online game of chance from their website. Both offering online gambling and ads for it is not legal under current legislation,” explained the Dutch regulator.