The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued a weekly fine of €280,000 (£240,704) to St. Lucia-based operator Starscream Limited for making its platforms available to Dutch players without the required licence.
The platforms in question include rantcasino.com, sugarcasino.com and allstarzcasino.com.
In June 2024, a KSA supervisor commenced an investigation into sugarcasino.com to determine whether the website was accessible from the Netherlands.
Subsequently, the supervisor found it was possible to register for an account on the site and deposit funds. When completing a test deposit of €10, the supervisor found that the instructions for making a payment were in Dutch.
After depositing, it was also possible for the KSA staffer to play The Dog House, an online slot created by supplier Pragmatic Play.
A concurrent KSA investigation was carried out into rantcasino.com, whereby the same circumstances transpired in terms of registration and depositing.
In the case of rantcasino.com, the supervisor was able to play the Pragmatic Play online slot title Buffalo King.
On both sites, no measures were taken to prevent Dutch players from registering, depositing, or participating in games, the regulator said.
The KSA’s inspectors successfully attempted to play games on both websites again in September 2024 upon re-inspection.
During the second inspection, it was also possible for supervisors to enter competitions for prizes and bonuses, with winnings paid out in euros.
In December, the KSA carried out another inspection into both websites but found it wasn’t possible to register, deposit or take part in games. However, at the same time, supervisors carried out inspections on the third platform, allstarzcasino.com.
This investigation found the same failings as the previous inspections carried out on the other platforms earlier that year.
In addition to being able to register, deposit and play games, the websites in question also contained English language which would appeal to Dutch players.
The chosen currency for each website was euros, Dutch payment platforms were made available to players and the Netherlands wasn’t listed as an excluded country in the terms and conditions.
As a result, the KSA issued a penalty payment order to Starscream Limited along with a demand to cease operations.
Should the operator continue providing its services in the Netherlands, it will be ordered to pay a fine of €280,000 per week, up to a maximum penalty of €840,000.
A KSA statement read: “On the sites investigated it was possible to create a player account, make deposits and participate in the illegal gambling offered. At that time, no technical measures were taken to prevent participation from the Netherlands.
“The Netherlands has a regulated gambling market to better protect players. The KSA therefore takes tough action against illegal supply.
“With an order subject to penalty, illegal supply is often quickly stopped. Providers can also be fined for the period in which the illegal supply was available.”
In addition to the Starscream Limited case, the KSA has also issued a warning to sports betting operator 711.BV over advertising to minors.
A 711 ad banner appeared on a website linked to homework assignments from primary schools. The ad was seen and reported by a concerned parent, which alerted the KSA to its existence.
The operator’s discovery of the issue and subsequent action taken is what led the KSA to cap the violation at a warning, despite the regulator stressing that it should have been alerted to the issue as soon as it occurred.
Last week, the KSA issued an unnamed operator with a €734,000 fine over failures to shield young people from excessive gambling and gambling addiction.
British Virgin Islands-based operator Techno Offshore was also fined €1.2m by the regulator this month for targeting the Dutch market without the necessary licence.
The post KSA slaps St. Lucia operator with potential €840,000 fine for targeting Dutch market first appeared on EGR Intel.
Dutch regulator sanctions Starscream Limited for granting Netherlands players access to online casino platforms rantcasino.com, sugarcasino.com and allstarzcasino.com without a licence
The post KSA slaps St. Lucia operator with potential €840,000 fine for targeting Dutch market first appeared on EGR Intel.