KSA Fines Operators €26 Million

The Netherlands' gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit has been busy on the regulation front, announcing that it has fined five online gaming operators a combined total of €26 million for targeting Dutch players without a gaming licence.

The fines were levied against N1 Interactive (operator of N1 Casino), Videoslots, BetPoint Group, Probe Investments (operator of Energy Casino), and Fairload Limited (operator of LV Bet) in December 2022, but announced the fines only today. The announcement was delayed because all of the groups had filed legal challenges to keep their names private. That request was denied by a judge, and the KSA came out with guns blazing.

In a statement, the KSA wrote: "Offering online games of chance to players in the Netherlands is only allowed with a license from the KSA. Strict rules and regulations apply to ensure that there is a safe legal offer, through which players are assured of a fair game and are protected against gambling addiction."

KSA Chairman René Jansen also commented, noting: "We mean business. Player safety is paramount. A fine must hit where it hurts, in the wallet. With such amounts, we think we can impose an appropriate sanction, given the illegal earnings."

N1 Interactive was fined €12.6 million for being a repeat offender, as they were previously fined by the KSA in 2021 for offering services to players in the country without a licence.

Videoslots was given the second-largest fine at €9.9 million for using the KSA logo on their site. The operator said that the logo's appearance was a mistake and denied targeting Dutch players. The company is said to be appealing the fine.

Betpoint Group got a €1.8 million fine, while Probe Investments got a €1.1 million fine. Fairload got a €900,000 fine.

Fine totals were calculated by the KSA using estimated turnovers of each group.

Casino Listings News will update readers on the outcomes of the appeals as they're adjudicated.

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