Winbet has become the latest operator to face action over unlicensed online gambling in the Netherlands, with regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) warning it may have to pay a penalty of up to €840,000 (£698,640/$907,422).
According to KSA, Winbet has been operating online games of chance without the required licence, which is seen as illegal by the regulator.
In an investigation it carried out on Winbet, KSA found games were being offered through four websites: Galaxyspins.com, Winnercasino1.bet, Superb1.bet and Doctorspins.com, although none of the sites are approved in the country.
KSA investigators were able to access each site, create a player account, make deposits and play illegal games of chance. The regulator added that no technical actions have been taken to prevent participation from Dutch players.
Winbet ordered to cease illegal operations
In its communications with Winbet, KSA has ordered the operator to cease all illegal activity in the country. If it fails to do so, Winbet could face a series of financial penalties.
KSA has set a weekly penalty payment order of €280,000. This will be issued each week until the maximum of €840,000 has been reached. It is not clear when the weekly penalties will begin.
“The Netherlands has a regulated gambling market to better protect players,” KSA said. “We are therefore taking tough action against illegal supply.
“With an order subject to penalty, illegal supply is often quickly stopped. Providers can also be fined for the period in which the illegal supply was available.”
Winbet joins BlokDance in KSA bad books
The penalty warning is the second to be issued by KSA this month. Last week, the regulator sent a similar communication to BlokDance.
An investigation found BlokDance had also been operating illegal games of chance across two websites: bc.game and bcgame.lu.
After initial contact, BlokDance blocked players from accessing the sites in the Netherlands. However, upon review, KSA said Dutch players were still able to access both websites.
As such, KSA warned BlockDance with the same penalty series as Winbet. It will have to pay a €280,000 penalty for each week it is still active in the Netherlands, up to €840,000.
