Hague Court Supports Dutch regulator to fine iGaming operators

Netherlands’ top court “District Court of The Hague”, ruled last week that the Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has the right to fine iGaming operators that were found to have breached Netherlands gambling laws, after several fined gaming operators complained that the Regulatory Body punished them unrighteously.

On July 13th, the Court found that the regulator was within its rights to impose six-figure fines against to Co-Gaming Limited (formerly Come On), based in Malta and ONISAC Limited and Mansion Online Casino Limited, both based in Gibraltar. Even though it’s said that the companies have paid their fines, they decided to appeal their cases to the Court hoping to get back the money that they had been fined.

The fines included €180,000 against the Maltese company ComeOn Europe in 2015 after regulators found that they had targeted Dutch players without being licensed to do so and a joint total of €150,000 for the Gibraltar-licensed ONISAC and Mansion Online Casino in 2014 for doing business with Dutch punters without the KSA’s authorization.

Kansspelautoriteit said: “The Gaming Authority is pleased that the court based its policy to address these providers in the interests of the consumer.” , “The current law now does not provide the opportunity to legally bet online. Operators therefore do not bind to strict conditions. With illegal online gambling players (consumers) face risks such as manipulated games and gambling debts.”