KSA slaps Shark77 with €900,000 fine over unlicensed operations

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has slapped Shark77 with a €900,000 fine after it established the firm was operating in the market without a licence.

The regulator initially investigated Shark77 in December 2021 and then followed this up with further probes in January and February last year.

The KSA established that Shark77 was offering online sports betting and casino games via its 18bet.com website without the required licence.

The 18bet.com site was able to be accessed by customers with a Dutch IP address, with the KSA noting no technical measures were in place to prevent Dutch customers from accessing the site.

After initial contact from the KSA, Shark77 denied it was targeting the Dutch market and was merely operating internationally in accordance with its Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence.

However, the KSA retorted, arguing that Shark77 had breached the regulations in the country and that it was operating illegally.

The KSA found key metrics that showed 18bet.com had been targeting Dutch players.

During the registration process, the option of the Netherlands as the customer’s country was offered. Also, during the process, the dialling code of the Netherlands was automatically filed in the telephone number section.

Additionally, a Dutch flag was visible throughout the registration process.

The KSA said: “Offering online games of chance is only allowed with a licence from the KSA. This is subject to strict rules and regulations aimed at ensuring that there is a safe legal offer, whereby players are assured of fair play and are protected against gambling addiction.”

KSA chair René Jansen commented: “These providers can thus have an attractive effect on players and jeopardise the channelling to the legal offer.

“We consider this serious and highly undesirable. Dutch players deserve the good protection of providers with a licence from the Gaming Authority,” he added.