Legislation
The Netherlands – Kansspelautoriteit increases fines for illegal online sites
By Phil - 1 March 2019
Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) is to increase its fines for illegal online games of chance with effect from today, March 1 2019.
The updated penalty policy rules assume a starting fine of €200,000, up from €150,000. The regulator said: “This is an interim step: the Ksa will thoroughly revise its penalties policy.”
The new fine though is just a starting point with each specific violation seeing the amount of €200,000 being increased or decreased, depending on factors such as the number of websites on which illegal online games of chance are offered, the number of games offered and the level of prizes and the type of bonuses.
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. The intention of the law is to create an attractive legal online gaming offer, which makes 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. ‘
The Ksa has included increases of standard 75,000 euros for three circumstances: 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 due to the fact that the Ksa is repeatedly confronted with this.
