Gammix Limited has formally declared its intent to challenge what it describes as an “unfounded and excessive” fine imposed by the Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA). The company is taking issue with the €19.7 million penalty, which it argues is grounded in “erroneous data and speculative calculations.”
The fine was levied after the KSA found that Gammix allowed Dutch consumers to access online gambling services without implementing the requisite age verification processes at registration, allegations Gammix vehemently denies.
Gammix has provided evidence suggesting that the accounts in question were registered in Luxembourg, using credit card payments, and contends that any discrepancies were the result of users providing false information at sign-up, a clear violation of the site’s terms of use.
The operator disputes the penalty’s calculation, which was based on data from a web traffic analysis tool and applied a cost of €240 per site visit. According to Gammix, this methodology inflates the company’s actual revenue figures.
Gammix also criticizes the KSA’s investigative approach, likening it to a “mystery shopper” method, which they argue is not a reliable foundation for imposing such a substantial penalty.
Phil Pearson, Director of Gammix Limited, has vowed to “fight on all fronts until it receives an apology and retraction”.
He said: “The KSA has imposed upon our company a penalty that is both outrageous and unsubstantiated. Now that we are able to talk openly about the case, we can confirm that we are fighting on all fronts as, to us, this is an extraordinary and unnecessarily heavy-handed action from a regulator that many already regarded as unapproachable.
“When we received the first notice of a possible penalty, we reached out to them to say we have blocks in place. We also asked for any information they had that was material to the investigation, to ensure we remained in compliance with all guidelines – a request they appeared to ignore. Our lawyers also approached the regulator, in writing, to gain more information, but again no response was forthcoming.
“We had enabled a block on Cloudflare for any Dutch IP, we have no Dutch language or direct Dutch payment methods, and categorically do not target Dutch traffic. If affiliates list any of our brands on Dutch-facing sites, we cannot be held responsible for those promotions. However, once players reached the end site, they would not be able to register an account.”
Pearson concluded: “This fine is an absolute joke, and we will contest this in every possible way, at every possible turn. We will only rest once this outrageous penalty has been rescinded and we have received the apology we deserve.”
