Netherlands impose 500,000 Euro-fine on MGA-Casino

The Dutch Gambling Supervisory Authority cracks hard on a Maltese online casino. As it was announced a few days ago, a record fine amounting to 500,000 Euro was imposed on the online gambling provider N1 Interactive Ltd. But why must a gambling authority pay such a high fine?

In an announcement published by the Dutch Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), it was revealed that a Maltese online casino must pay a 500,000 Euro fine. The reason for the fine seems to be that the online casino specifically and illegally targeted Dutch players.

Which casino is it?

The Dutch Supervisory Authority has asked the N1 Interactive Ltd. to pay a fine amounting to 500,000 Euro. The experienced online gambling provider is accused of presenting the Dutch users with an illegal gambling offer on its online platform betchan.com. Meanwhile the provider cannot be reached anymore in the Netherlands.

In April of this year, the Remote Gambling Act came into force in the Netherlands. This brings with it a new gambling law, which makes it possible for providers to apply for an official licence and thus be able to offer online gambling legally. The distributed permissions will however be available at the earliest from the 1^st. October 2021. Till now the N1 Interactive Ltd. has therefore no permission to offer online gambling in the Netherlands. Just last March we reported that the Dutch Authorities are expecting to generate billions in turnover from online gambling.

How does one explain the high amount of the fine?

In this case, the amount of the fine is the most surprising. The fine amounts to half a million Euro which turns out to be exceptionally high. The fact, that the provider targeted Dutch gambling fans by advertising with the bonus code “Amsterdam“, was a determining factor leading to the high amount. Besides this, the Dutch Gambling Authority has criticised the fact, that the provider failed to carry out a “visible age verification”. Further to this, the provider has billed registered gamblers with a charge for longer inactivity.

The KSA also announced further strict monitoring and sanctions against illegal gambling providers of online gambling. Online gambling in the Netherlands will only be possible legally from October and under strict requirements.

Conclusion

A fine amounting to 500,000 Euro impacts even experienced online gambling providers as N1. It can be assumed, that the provider will in the future, at least in the Netherlands, follow the legal requirements stricter to avoid facing further high fines. Currently it is still unclear, whether N1 Interactive Ltd. has already paid the fine or if it will lodge an appeal against the fine. There are till now no similar cases known in Germany. It is however probable, that in the future, even the German Gambling Supervisory Authority will proceed harshly against infringements. This will however be the case only when the Authority is fully operational. Till then it will take a while.

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