Dutch regulator continues unlicensed operator crackdown
Casino.com operators ONISAC and Mansion are fined 150,000 for targeting Dutch players
Dutch gambling regulator the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has continued its clamp down on unlicensed egaming operators by issuing a hefty joint fine to Mansion and ONISAC.
Both operators have been punished for offering games of chance via their Casino.com site without a licence and must pay the Gaming Authorty 150,000 between them.
The KSA said the site was deliberately targeting Dutch players by offering a local language option and a Dutch payment system, namely iDeal. It also said it was unclear whether the site offered enough protection to players.
The fine was initially administered in November 2013 however it was made public this week after a preliminary injunction was dismissed by a court in The Hague.
ONISAC and Mansion have appealed against the fine.
The news comes four months after the Dutch Gambling Authority (DGA) issued a fine of 100,000 to Curaçao-based gaming company Global Stars in a move which should send out a “clear signal” to other unlicensed operators.
Global Stars was the first to be fined for offering online bingo and roulette to consumers based in the Netherlands without a valid licence.
The Dutch government is currently considering new egaming proposals which would legalise the activity with the market planned to open in early 2015. The crackdown on illegal operators is seen as a precursor to the official licensing process.