Dutch gaming authority against illegal operators

KSA announced further measures against illegal online gambling operators in the country.

Netherlands.- Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling authority, reported that they will take a series of stricter measures in order to fight unauthorised online gambling operators in the Netherlands. KSA had announced earlier this month severe consequences to operators that violate the measures.

According to a report from Vincent van ‘t Riet, Co-Founder of Dutch gambling consultancy NL Kansspel, to SBC News, the Dutch gambling authority is now seeking non-licensed online gaming providers to install a mechanism that would block consumers from the Netherlands to enter their websites. Kansspelautoriteit said that from January 2017 any site working besides the new regulations will be directly eligible for enforcement action, with severe consequences if they violate the measures set in place by the KSA: Fines can be as high as €820,000 for the most serious crimes, or 10 percent of sales to Dutch punters.

Last month, KSA started processing the new horse racing license, and established that gambling providers that previously operated in the Netherlands without a legal license are banned from participating in the process. According to van ’T Riet, it’s still unknown if the same rule would also apply to an online legislation.

Earlier this year the Lower House from the Netherlands voted in favor of an online gambling bill that would make it possible for international iGaming operators to apply for a license and provide services and products in the country. The bill still needs to be passed by the Senate, and multiple sources confirmed that they’re expecting to see its market regulated in 2018.