The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a total of €600,000 (£536,946 / $727,044) in fines to a Curacao-licensed operator.
The fines were issued as part of KSA’s crackdown on offshore operators marketing games of chance to Dutch customers.
The operator, Virtual Coin Gaming, was hit with a fine of €500,000, while an unnamed individual charged with running the websites www.futgalaxy.nl and nl.futgamer.com also received a €100,000 penalty.
The regulator said it was forced to take immediate action when it was discovered that the websites had not only targeted Dutch players but minors and young adults.
The games were linked to a card game featured in EA Sports’ FIFA video games, which is also banned in the Netherlands.
The regulator flagged that online gambling was still currently illegal in the Netherlands, despite a process being underway to enable operators to apply for the requisite licenses to supply online gaming products.
The KSA said: “The current law does not make it possible to apply for a license for online games of chance. This will change due to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act).
“That law will come into effect in 2021. Under strict conditions, it will be possible to obtain a license for offering games of chance via the internet. Supervision is then possible so that players can play protected.”
The licensing window for the Netherlands’ new regime does not open until March. The market is not expected to launch until September 2021.
