Double Tap, Dutch KSA Regulator Hammers iGaming Sites For Illegal Gambling Breaches
Holland’s Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gaming regulator has hammered operators GoldWin Limited and MKC Limited with swingeing fines for illegal gambling breaches.
GoldWin, operating Westcasino.com, has been sanctioned €6.7 million (£5.86m); while MKC, operator of the betworld247.com platform, has been fined €900,000 (£787,300) by the recently-reformed and empowered Dutch gambling overlord.
Both GoldWin and MKC are not licensed to offer gambling in The Netherlands and breached the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act, the KSA ruled.
Following a lengthy investigation of Malta-headquartered GoldWin, it was found that their Westcasino.com site received nearly 850,000 visits from Dutch iGamers last year.
GoldWin had no measures in place to block the illegal iGaming, in clear violation of Dutch gambling law, the KSA asserted in announcing the massive fine–representing seven percent of the company’s estimated turnover–this week.
Violation
For their part, MKC was also found to be offering games of chance to Dutch punters in violation of Holland’s 2021 KOA Gambling Act.
As with GoldWin, the KSA ruled that MKC had “no technical measures” to block illegal gambling on their site.
“At MKC Limited, players could enter an age themselves without clear identification. This means that their website is also accessible to very vulnerable, underage players,” said KSA Chairman René Jansen.
“This is a seriously culpable offence, which we have also included as an increasing factor for the fine.
“It shows once again that in many cases little attention seems to be paid to the safety of players on the illegal market.”
The Dutch iGaming market, now boasting 27 accredited licence holders, has boomed since the space was regulated in October 2021.
But there’s also been a tough corresponding crackdown on breaches and on operators offering illegal gambling.
Unconfirmed reports claim that the KSA is currently investigating a further eight bad market operators, while in March earlier this year they levied a total of €26 million in fines (£22.74m) against five illicit iGaming ventures.
