Dutch Gaming Authority Issues €1.05M Fine to Unregulated Operator

The Netherlands Gaming Authority, KSA (Kansspelautoriteit), recently announced it had fined Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, a Costa Rica-based gambling operator, €1.05 million ($1.09 million) for providing unlicensed online gambling services to Dutch players. The regulator maintains strict oversight over the country’s gaming sector, ensuring all licensed companies abide by strict customer protection requirements.

The Operator Had Multiple Compliance Issues

This newest fine follows a thorough investigation that revealed the operator violated Dutch gambling laws by offering its gambling products through the website time2spin.com, accessible to players in the Netherlands. A follow-up check from the regulator found that the website was unreachable for Dutch players because it was IP-blocked. However, the KSA discovered the company was still active in the country.

In an attempt to bypass restrictions following earlier regulatory scrutiny, Alimaniere set up a new website, timetospin1.com, enabling  Dutch users to continue gambling using their previously created accounts. This deliberate attempt to evade regulatory oversight led to a significantly heftier penalty than the usual €600,000 ($624,000) for similar offenses. 

Other circumstances that led to the KSA’s harsh fine include age verification failures and potentially allowing minors to gamble on the platform. Alimaniere’s websites also had inactivity fees penalizing players for not using their accounts and lacked safeguards to prevent problem gambling. Such violations are incompatible with Dutch gambling regulations, justifying the KSA’s actions.

The Netherlands Heightens Its Regulatory Scrutiny

The fine against Alimaniere reflects the Netherlands’ ongoing efforts to combat unauthorized gambling operators and protect its regulated market. The KSA has been increasingly proactive in cracking down on unregulated entities. In November, the regulator issued a €600,000 penalty against Blue High House BV for targeting Dutch players via its unregulated platform betonline.ag.

KSA’s strict licensing requirements ensure fairness, consumer protection, and responsible gaming. By targeting unregulated entities, the Authority also protects the integrity of the regulated gambling market in the Netherlands. KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen commented on this newest violation, noting that illegal providers constituted a significant danger to public well-being, necessitating swift intervention where needed.

The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely. With illegal providers, we often see no measures to prevent risky gambling behavior. We, therefore, take tough action against these entities.

Michel Groothuizen, KSA chairman

The KSA’s intensifying scrutiny sends a clear message: Unlicensed operators attempting to target Dutch players will face severe consequences. NOGA and VNLOK, two Dutch trade associations representing the licensed online gambling industry in the country, recently joined the regulator’s efforts by launching a new gambling report hotline, allowing the public to contribute to the fight against black market operators.