Netherlands increases penalties for illegal online offerings

The gambling authority has increased its fines for illegal online games of chance.

Netherlands.- The Dutch Gaming Authority – Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) – has revealed that starting today, fines will increase for illegal online games of chance. The updated penalty policy rules start from €200k, up €50k from the previous regime.

KSA said that the starting fine in the updated penalty policy is the same for all offenders, but subsequently, on the basis of the specific violation, the €200k will be increased or decreased. For example, the number of websites on which illegal online games of chance are offered, the number of games and the level of prizes and bonuses are circumstances that influence the level of the final fine, KSA explained.

René Jansen, chairman of the board of directors of the KSA, said: “The fines we used were not terrifying enough. The Senate recently adopted the bill on remote games of chance, which makes it possible to apply for a license in time for offering gambling via the internet. Illegal games of chance continue to fight the KSA firmly.”

Jansen explained that the law aims at creating an attractive legal online gaming offer, making it possible for consumers to play safely on a fair market. “There is no room for illegal providers. That is why we intend to thoroughly review our penalties policy for the future. The updating of the fines policy is now only a first step,” he said.

The KSA also included increases of €75k for three different situations: offering live betting, calculating costs for (temporary) inactive players and making misleading statements about permits and supervision. These additions to the fines policy rules are because the KSA said that this is something that they have to deal with regularly.