Dutch gambling regulator fines ComeOn casino operator €750k over duty of care breaches
The KSA found that the gambling operator had failed to intervene in cases of excessive player spending and potential gambling addiction.
Dutch gambling regulator fines ComeOn casino operator €750k over duty of care breaches
Netherlands.- The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has announced a €750,000 fine on Tulipa (the operator of ComeOn Casino) for failing to comply with its duty of care. The regulator said the breaches occurred between December 2023 to September 2024. The KSA said the company failed to intervene adequately to protect players from undue playing behaviour and potential gambling-harm-related issues.
The regulator requested 10 player files and found that all of them showed violations of the duty of care. Examples included players depositing thousands of euros in a very short time without prompt intervention upon signs of excessive gambling behaviour. Players were also allowed to set very high deposit limits.
Under the Dutch Remote Gambling Act, licensed providers are mandated to monitor activity and protect customers “as much as possible” against the risks of gambling. In this case, the regulator ruled that the operator’s oversight was insufficient to prevent harm.
The regulator found that during the aforementioned period, the operator allowed several customers to continue wagering despite clear indicators of problematic behaviour. The KSA’s findings suggest that Tulipa’s monitoring systems and subsequent interventions did not meet the legal threshold necessary to ensure a safe gambling environment for Dutch residents.
Michel Groothuizen, chairman of KSA, said: “We previously noted that the implementation of the duty of care by providers varied too far and often left much to be desired. We have therefore carried out additional research at various providers, resulting in the various duty of care fines that we are now seeing coming out. Providers should make absolutely no mistakes for something as essential as the duty of care, especially when it comes to vulnerable target groups such as young adults.”
Last November, the regulator had already issued a warning to Tulipa following AML failures, signalling a continued “zero tolerance” approach toward non-compliance with player protection standards in the Netherlands.
