Dutch Gambling Watchdog Warns Affiliates About Unregulated Gambling
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) – The Netherlands Gaming Authority has put affiliates on notice. The regulator warned affiliates offering unregulated gambling in the country will face the full force of the law. This comes as the country prepares to launch the regulated iGaming market.
Unregulated iGaming Promotions by Affiliates Put on Notice
The Netherlands is preparing to launch a regulated iGaming market. But the Netherlands Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has fired a warning to all affiliates looking to make a quick buck by promoting unregulated gaming activities.
The launch of the regulated market is expected to take place on October 1. As such, the regulator said it would step in enforcement against affiliates. This is not the first time the gaming watchdog will be clamping down on affiliates.
In its last sweep against affiliates, the Gaming Authority said it scanned 44 websites. These were later reported and sanctions were placed on them eventually. From the 44 scanned websites, 26 promoted online gambling. As a result, they were required to pull down their adverts. Three of the sites did so after the KSA threatened to penalize them. Another three were subject to additional investigation. The remaining 20 pulled down their adverts immediately.
The Remote Gambling Act Finally Comes into Force
Online gambling advertising has been and continues to be illegal, at least until October 1 when it’s set to become legal. That informs why the regulator fined an operator licensed in Curacao a whopping €600,000 in January. Virtual Coin Gaming paid €500,000 as a fine and an additional €100,000 as a penalty issued to a person connected to the business.
According to the regulator, the operator breached regulations by offering illegal online games. This was through its websites nl.futgamer.com and www.futgalaxy.nl that targeted Dutch customers. As a result of the breach, minors participated in these games. The games were centered around the FIFA Ultimate Team. This is an online card game that’s part of the EA Sports FIFA game series, prohibited in the country.
Hopefully, this will not be the case starting October 1 after multiple delays that initially set the date for January 1 this year. The Remote Gambling Act that legalizes online gambling went live on April 1, 2021. As of April, the KSA had received 28 license applications out of the 40 they expect to receive. Of these 40, the regulator seeks to approve about 35 licenses to offer online gambling services in the country.
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