Dutch regulator slaps igaming operator with €500,000 fine

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) had fined Curacao-licensed Virtual Coin Gaming for targeting illegal games at Dutch customers.

The Netherlands.- The national gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a €500,000 fine to Curacao-licensed igaming operator Virtual Coin Gaming for offering illegal games to Dutch players.

The regulator found the operator had offered games based on FIFA Ultimate Team, a card game in EA Sports’ FIFA video game series. The game is banned in the Netherlands.

Virtual Coin Gaming was found to have offered the games via the websites www.futgalaxy.nl and nl.futgamer.com, including to minors.

KSA also issued a €100,000 fine against an individual connected to the operator.

It said it was clear that this was a case of an unlicensed operator specifically targeting Dutch consumers, as indicated by use of use of the Dutch language, the dot.nl domain extension and use of Dutch payment system iDEAL.

The KSA said the Games of Chance Act states that online gambling can only be offered in the Netherlands with a licence, which it is not yet possible to apply for. 

Following several delays, the Netherlands’ new Remote Gambling Act is expected to enter force on March 1, with the market to launch from September 1.

KSA has published details of its inspection standards for the would-be licensees.