The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced that the Hague court has upheld the regulator’s decision to block a Maltese operator allegedly linked to the murder of an investigative journalist. The Dutch regulator had refused the gambling company’s application in 2023, prompting legal proceedings.
Operator’s Application Rejected
In 2023, the Malta-based operator applied for a license to enter the emerging gaming market in the Netherlands. However, the KSA raised concerns about the company’s alleged involvement in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a renowned journalist who exposed bribery and corruption within the gambling industry.
Galizia was tragically killed in a car bombing in 2017, preventing her from revealing her findings.
During its routine integrity checks, the KSA requested additional information from the license applicant. The investigation revealed that a former shareholder of the Maltese company was suspected of being linked to Galizia’s murder.
The KSA found that the information provided by the company was incorrect, evasive, or incomplete. Consequently, the authority refused to grant the license.
Hague Court Supports KSA’s Decision
The operator initiated legal proceedings against the KSA in an attempt to enter the Dutch gaming market despite the initial license denial. However, the Hague court has now upheld the KSA’s decision to deny the company’s license application.
The court ruled that the operator’s provision of incorrect or incomplete information was sufficient grounds to question its reliability and deny the license.
The KSA emphasized that integrity tests are a crucial part of its responsibilities as the Dutch gambling regulator. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high regulatory standards and ensuring that licensees and applicants are honest and transparent.
KSA Continues Monitoring the Dutch Market
Addressing transparency issues, the KSA recently imposed a penalty payment order on a gambling company that provided incomplete and incorrect information.
Additionally, the KSA has continued to penalize and warn companies that violate Dutch gambling regulations by offering illegal gaming or breaching the rules expected of licensees.
In January, the KSA took action against the provider of illegal bingo games and advertisements. Around the same time, it issued a EUR 1.05 million fine to Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, an unlicensed operator based in Costa Rica.
At the start of the year, the KSA pledged to increase its oversight and intensify efforts to protect the Dutch market from fraud.
More recently, Dutch lawmakers proposed raising the age limit for high-risk gambling products from 18 to 21 and granting the KSA more authority to block offshore companies. While the KSA did not object to the latter measure, it expressed concerns about the former.
