Stringent Actions by the Dutch Gambling Authority Against Unauthorized Operators
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The Dutch Gambling Authority, known as KSA, has recently taken stringent action against a new website in a move to enforce its regulations.
The operator of this website, identified as Sarah Eternal SRL, has been slapped with a substantial fine of EUR900,000. This penalty was imposed due to the company’s unauthorized operation of a gambling platform, as detailed by the regulator on its official platform.
KSA Pursues New Operator in the Netherlands
In an official statement presented in translation, KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen emphasized the commitment of the regulator to address any violations of gambling laws:
‘The Netherlands provides a legal market to ensure safe gambling for those interested. However, with illegal providers, there is often a lack of consideration for preventing risky gambling behavior. For instance, there was no age verification, enabling minors to gamble, and the platform allowed gambling with cryptocurrency. As the regulatory body, we enforce strict measures against such entities.’
Sarah Eternal SRL stands accused of operating Casinosky, which has illicitly targeted Dutch gamblers without obtaining a KSA license. This penalty surpasses previous fines for similar violations, as Sarah Eternal SRL reportedly did not adhere to the regulator’s directives.
- The operator and its platform have faced fines in the past.
- In March 2024, a smaller penalty of EUR280,000 was imposed on the operator.
- This enforcement is one of several actions the KSA has taken this week.
Regulator Vigilantly Observing the Gambling Market for Violations
Earlier, the regulator also intervened against an undisclosed operator due to the presence of an autoplay feature in a game. The KSA noted that a single roulette game contained this autoplay function, which is banned in the Netherlands as it might foster addictive behaviors and gambling practices.
The violation did not warrant further actions by the regulator since it was deemed a minor infraction, and corrective measures were promptly implemented, as clarified by the watchdog. However, the case involving Sarah Eternal SRL is of a more severe nature.
The KSA has consistently imposed stringent financial penalties. It has targeted various websites and operators over recent months, including entities like Winbet and BlockDance BV.
