Netherlands Gaming Authority says fines for illegal operators have "little impact"

[The Buzz]

Earlier this week, the Netherlands Gaming Authority published its draft Supervisory Agenda 2019, outlining the regulator’s strategy for overseeing the Dutch gambling market. In the document, the regulator admitted that imposing fines on illegal online operators has had little impact: “In a number of cases, fines have not been paid. Such unpaid fines are difficult to collect if providers are based abroad.”

The Gaming Authority added that many Dutch consumers remain unaware that online gambling is currently illegal.

From the Gambling in Holland newsletter:

Despite these difficulties, the regulator said it will continue to look for “innovative ways” to reduce illegal online offers as much as possible.

Frank Tolboom of Dutch legal firm Kalff Katz & Franssen told EGR Intel that the complaint was designed to put pressure on politicians to expedite the legislative process.

“[The Gaming Authority] wants new tools to tackle unlicensed operators – these tools can only be provided once the new law has entered into force.”

In the mean time, the regulator may continue to focus on intermediaries like affiliates and payment providers, Tolboom said.

Tolboom: “We don’t think that the KSA will stop with issuing fines, however. Fines can remain unpaid but act as an important ‘stick’ since fined operators will not be eligible for a license at market opening.”

Here is a link to the document: https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/nieuws...oetst-plannen/

[Cash Bonus]

More action needs to be taken out here instead of issuing only "fines".

[FreeSpins]

So why are casinos with licenses from Curacao (overseas territory of the Netherlands) illegal? It is a dependent territory, as opposed to eg the Isle of Man which independent.

[Triple7]

So why are casinos with licenses from Curacao (overseas territory of the Netherlands) illegal? It is a dependent territory, as opposed to eg the Isle of Man which independent.

Curacao is a constituent country, but that's a country. Curacao licenses are not valid outside Curacao unless a country recognizes this "licenses".

Which the Netherlands does not.

[gil.langelaan]

More action needs to be taken out here instead of issuing only "fines".

Yup, it's paying a cut for them.

[JCA]

In case if will be impossible to "reach" the offshore provider, the regulator may prohibit the access to the website, so it is necessary to have local gambling license.

[Triple7]

In case if will be impossible to "reach" the offshore provider, the regulator may prohibit the access to the website, so it is necessary to have local gambling license.

In many countries, it is not allowed to block websites. The content of the website might be legal on the location where it's running from.

In this case, Curacao. A Curacao license is valid just in Curacao (and not even there), not outside Curacao. But if blocking a website is not a legal option, there's not much that can be done.

[FSB]

In many countries, it is not allowed to block websites. The content of the website might be legal on the location where it's running from.

In this case, Curacao. A Curacao license is valid just in Curacao (and not even there), not outside Curacao. But if blocking a website is not a legal option, there's not much that can be done.

It's impossible, since they also should block all VPNs.

[FictionNet]

Slight disrail - outside of the Betsson group, anyone recommend casinos still accepting NL players (and likely to continue doing so)?

[ocreditor]

Interesting... if fines have little impact I'm only wondering what will be their next step..

[FSB]

Interesting... if fines have little impact I'm only wondering what will be their next step..

[Moonlight Cat]

the regulator may prohibit the access to the website, so it is necessary to have local gambling license.

Some countries do this. Prohibit the access to the websites, exclude some sites from search results (Google do this in Russia for example), stop gambling transactions.

Results: Non effective. > 301 redirects, VPN, email spam, black hut seo, bitcoin transactions...

European bureaucrats do not understand that the Internet has no borders. The one and only effective methods against illegal operators = simple license and radical tax decrease.

Offshore operators sooner or later will disappear. New generation of illegal operators will come soon. With crypto currency deposit/withdraw, without any licenses, without any geo restrictions.

[Haldus]

There is always a backdoor to access one website or another.

[Triple7]

Interesting... if fines have little impact I'm only wondering what will be their next step..

Lately, they've fined almost exclusively big, public-listed operators, who pay their fines. they do not run anymore after offshore Curacao casinos but just take on the master license holders en trust offices who service them.

[Pokerface]

Obviously fines are not working when they can't collect them either. More severe penalties will only work.