Dutch Gambling Watchdog Threatens NetX Betting Ltd with $730K Fine

Kansspelautoriteit, the country’s gambling watchdog, has issued a $730,000 (€675,000) fine against NetX Betting Limited, which the watchdog argues has been offering online gambling without a license in the country.

Another Gambling Website Targeted in the Netherlands

As a regulator, the Dutch Gaming Authority has been one of the harshest in Europe, with many companies falling under its blows arguing that the regulator had gone to incredible lengths to “prove” that they were offering an illegal gambling product when in reality, the regulator had to do use VPN and other means to access the website.

Regardless, the Kansspelautoriteit has maintained that since it is able to register on behalf of a Dutch citizen, it is proof enough that a gambling website is not complying with the country’s strict gambling laws.

The Netherlands is in a state of constant flux when it comes to its gambling laws, with ideas such as a blanket ban on gambling advertising or even banning online gambling habitually floated in the country.

In the meantime, and despite watchdog-induced fears of a sprawling offshore gambling market, the Netherlands has boasted one of the best overall channelization rates in Europe, with the current rate set at 95%.

Back to NetX Betting Limited, the Kansspelautoriteit has argued that the company had made no effort to keep Dutch residents away from its gambling platform. The resulting fine was what the regulator described as a “basic fine” worth $650,000 (€600,000), plus additional charges over “aggravating circumstances.”

Kansspelautoriteit chairman of the board Michel Groothuzien has said that the regulator was determined to protect Dutch players and crack down on “illegal offers.” A translated statement by Groothuzien read:

“We see that illegal providers often pay little attention to the player and do not adhere to a duty of care. Here, for example, we saw the practice that players who are inactive for a long time after creating an account are given a ‘fine’ by the provider.”

Dutch Gambling Authority Has a Busy October

This is not the first penalty in recent weeks. In fact, the watchdog has targeted Winbet, another website, threatening to apply an incremental penalty of $302,000 (€280,000) per week, for a maximum of four weeks, if the company fails to withdraw from the market.

Winbet is said to run a number of gambling websites, including galaxyspins.com, winnercasino1 bet, superb1 bet, and doctorspins com, and the operator could face a total fine of €840,000 ($907,600) should it fail to comply with the regulator’s demands.

In a related case from earlier this month, Kansspelautoritet BlockDance BV threatened to apply the same penalties on the company it has now levied against Winbet.