Dutch Regulator Hits Unlucky Operator With Over $613,000 In Fines

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling authority has fined Virtual Coin Gaming, a Curacao-licensed operator, a $613,000 fine, moreover, an individual connected with that business got hit with a €100,000 penalty.

The operator was found to have offered illegal games of chance on its www.futgalaxy.nl and nl.futgamer.com sites, which targeted Dutch players.

The KSA said that the game in question was a card game called FIFA Ultimate Team, which is banned in the Netherlands. They also said that minors and young adults had access and played said game. 

Whenever a player from the Netherlands is targeted, the KSA takes special initiative in shutting the door on them, with expensive repercussions. 

The operator was even offering the sites in question in the Dutch language, and, the use of dot.nl is specific to the Netherlands, as well as the iDEAL payment method, which was also available on the sites. 

In the Netherlands' Games of Chance Act, the KSA pointed out that online gambling of any kind may only be provided by a licensed operator. 

As iGaming is still prohibited in the Netherlands, there is no way for an operator to be granted an online gambling license. 

This year, the Remote Gambling Act will come into play and there will be strict rules for operators that are awarded a license. It won't be until around September that Dutch players will be able to play online. iGaming in the Netherlands was supposed to go live in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19. 

In October 2020, KSA provided details of the license application process. Interested operators must offer the KSA its policies on a number of issues, including fair gaming, addiction gambling, integrity, and more. 

The KSA issued a consultation on the national player protection rules, which included a total ban on any promotional bonuses and strict rules on any kind of advertising.