KSA Penalizes Winning Poker Network for Unlicensed Gaming

The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit/KSA) announced that it had fined yet another gambling company for operating without a license. The operator in question was slammed with a hefty fine, underscoring the KSA’s resolute policy when it comes to combatting illegal products.

WPN Operated Without a License

The KSA clarified that it fined Winning Poker Network (WPN) after understanding that it operated without the necessary permit. The Netherlands prohibits unlicensed online gaming companies from targeting local players and encouraging them to play.

Violators of these rules often face significant financial penalties. In this case, the KSA issued a fine of EUR 1,275,000 ($1.31 million) to WPN, which didn’t comply with earlier warnings.

According to the official announcement, the authority learned that WPN’s americascardroom website was available to Dutch players, who could make deposits and gamble. The website, as mentioned, lacked the necessary license and, as a result, the KSA reached out to its owners, warning them that they risk a penalty. After WPN failed to pull out from the market, the KSA proceeded to impose its fine.

WPN, for context, operates several gambling websites other than americascardroom, none of which are legal in the Netherlands.

KSA Imposed Extra Penalties

In addition to regular fines, the KSA can also impose further sanctions for the period in which americascardroom’s unlicensed products were available. The authority clarified that this was the case with WPN.

Additional aggravating practices led to further fine increases. The operator notably charged inactivity fees, meaning that players had to pay to log in after remaining inactive for long periods of time. To make matters worse, WPN presented its products as legal by highlighting a license from a foreign regulator. This type of misleading information is something that the Kansspelautoriteit cannot ignore.

Michel Goothuizen, the Kansspelautoriteit’s chairman, commented on the matter, saying that fines are an effective way to keep illegal operators out. He added that the KSA would not hesitate to impose further penalties for additional violations and hit illegal companies “where it really hurts – in their wallets.”

KSA to Double Down on Regulation

The KSA recently announced its plan to double down on its efforts to prevent minors from gambling and penalize operators that violate its rules in 2025. This was prompted by the many cases of violations the KSA recorded in 2024.

In the meantime, Kindred’s Unibet brand faces criticism in the Netherlands for blocking lawsuits from former gamblers in the country. The lawsuits stem from the company’s illegal operation before it held an official license and have been filed by consumers who seek their money back. While some have succeeded, the company is now trying hard to prevent others from doing so.