Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has levied a fine of €400,000 (US$439,500) against the Stars Group and PokerStars for soliciting illegal offshore bets to Dutch consumers through the PokerStars.eu domain.
The fine came as a result of a six-month investigation by the KSA during the second half of 2018. It concluded that the site was accessible from the Netherlands though the Stars Group was not licensed in the country. According to iGamingBusiness.com, customers were able to deposit funds using iDEAL, an online payment method only available in the Netherlands.
Other factors included an in-site contact form published in Dutch and the mention of two Dutch problem gambling organizations. In addition, the Netherlands was not mentioned in a list of countries from which gambling via the website was not permitted.
The KSA also noted that the Netherlands classes poker as a game of chance, and only Holland Casino is allowed to offer real-money poker services at one of its land-based sites.
Online gambling, including poker, is currently illegal in the Netherlands, though the country is set to launch a regulated market in January 2021 after the Dutch Senate in February passed the Netherlands’ Remote Gambling Act.
New online gaming laws will come into force from July 1, 2020, subject to final approval from the Ministry of Justice and Security. After this, the KSA will draw up license conditions ahead of the proposed launch date six months later.
Only operators that have had no activity in the country for two years prior to the introduction of legislation will be eligible for a new online license.
The KSA fined Kindred Group’s Trannel International subsidiary last month also being handed a fine of €470,000. Kindred has since said that it intends to appeal the decision.
