The Dutch Gaming Authority De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has fined LCS Ltd. €2.074 million ($2.17 million) for illegally offering online gaming in the Netherlands on its online website that is based outside of the country without a license, Yogonet reported October 16.
The enforcement began in August of last year when LCS Ltd. was fined €165,000 along with a cease and desist order.
KSA Chairman René Jansen said in a statement: “An order subject to penalty is an often very effective method to immediately stop illegal supply. However, illegal providers who subsequently go black should not think that they have ‘bought off’ their illegal activities: the previously committed violations can also be punished. In addition, we continue to carry out re-checks to verify whether the supply has actually been and will continue to be discontinued.”
Online games may only be offered in the Netherlands with a license issued by KSA. Operators must also provide fair gaming and protect consumers from gambling addiction.
In a related development, a Dutch MP has introduced a bill that would reverse the legality of online gaming and repeal the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), which went into effect October 2021. It is currently a €1 billion market.
MP Anne Kuik declared, “As a result of the law, gambling has been normalized and young people have been driven into a world of addiction.” She added, “We have to suppress that now.”
She called KOA a product of a “prevailing neoliberal wind” and fans of free markets at the expense of the vulnerable.
Citing the National Rapporteur on Addictions, she speculated that the change resulted in 450,000 more people gambling, with a fifth of them being young adults. She would prefer to outlaw online gaming completely. Barring that she would crack down on the market and only allow state-run companies to operate.
Kuik is not alone. MP Mirjam Bikker demanded how many more gaming addicts must be created before the law was repealed.
“I want to put the initiative law in the pipeline in the near future and hope that I can continue with it after the elections,” said Bikker, according to EGR Global. “Otherwise, a successor can take over from me.”
The KSA has imposed several restrictions since legalization designed to protect consumers. They include banner gambling advertising and outlawing gambling sponsorships beginning in 2025.
