The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has levied a hefty fine of €1,275,000 on Winning Poker Network (WPN) for offering gambling services to Dutch players without the required license. This action is a clear violation of Dutch gaming regulations.
WPN allowed Dutch players to access their site, americascardroom.eu, and gamble illegally. After becoming aware of this violation, the Ksa informed WPN of their intent to impose a penalty. Consequently, WPN made the site inaccessible to Dutch users. However, WPN continued to own and operate other illegal websites, including truepoker.eu, which remained accessible to Dutch players. As a result, the Ksa imposed further penalties on WPN to cease operations on all its sites.
Michel Groothuizen, a representative of the Ksa, emphasized, “Imposing a penalty is an effective method to quickly remove illegal gambling platforms. However, these entities should not believe they can avoid severe consequences, as we also impose financial penalties for infractions. We target them where it hurts most – their wallets.”
The Ksa not only imposes immediate penalties but also sanctions entities for the duration that the illegal services were available. This increased fine accounts for practices deemed to exacerbate the offense’s severity, such as charging players inactivity fees and falsely presenting themselves as a licensed and trustworthy entity. The Ksa takes such consumer fraud very seriously.
By imposing this significant fine, the Ksa reiterates its commitment to enforcing stringent regulations to protect consumers and ensure fair gaming practices.
