The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, has issued a €1m fine to the Curaçao-licensed online gambling group Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, which operates as Alimaniere Ltd.
The €1m fine relates to Dutch players gambling on the unlicensed website time2spin.com, which is recognised as a subsidiary of Alimaniere Ltd.
Despite the website being IP-blocked, a KSA investigation revealed that “the provider had created another website, timetospin1.com. Dutch players could use the account they had previously created on the other website.”
The KSA has taken action to block both websites. The €1m penalty was imposed due to the combined unlicensed activities of both websites operated by Alimaniere Ltd.
The statement highlighted that the KSA had evidence “that there were various factors which resulted in a higher fine than the basic fine of €600,000 being imposed.”
Last week, the KSA sanctioned a new ‘General Policy of Fines’ for its governance of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA). The new policy was necessary to broaden the scope of fines related to KOA infringements and the Netherlands’ Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft).
The policy has introduced a new framework of categories for determining and imposing fines, starting at Category 1 for basic fines and progressing to Category 5 for major liabilities, with fines ranging from €2m upwards.
The calculation and reporting of fines are conducted under this new framework, which requires the KSA to evaluate specific conditions and mitigating factors relating to liabilities.
Significantly, the KSA is permitted to consider ‘adjustments for recidivism’, allowing fines to be doubled if the licence holder has previously committed the same violation.
Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the board of the KSA, stated: “The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely. With illegal providers, we often see that no account is taken of the prevention of risky gambling behaviour. For example, there was a lack of age verification, which allowed minors to play, and inactivity costs were charged when someone did not use their account for a while. We therefore take tough action against these types of parties.”
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, has issued a €1m fine to the Curaçao-licensed online gambling group Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, which operates as Alimaniere Ltd. …