The Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued Merkur Casino a fine of €45,000 ($49,500), for breaching its responsibilities with the Central Register of Exclusion of Games of Chance (Cruks).
Cruks was invented to help those who suffer with a gambling addiction, whereby they could bar themselves from all arcades and casinos as well as online games of chance in the Netherlands.
This means gambling providers with a licence in the Netherlands can check whether its players are listed on the Cruks system, and therefore ensure those who are on Cruks cannot gain entry, which in turn restricts those who do have a problem from being able to gamble.
On this occasion, the casino received the fine because it gave access to a person who was registered with Cruks and therefore failed to comply with its agreement with the self-exclusion scheme.
During the 13-day period from 17 February 2022 to 2 March 2022, a user who had self-excluded from all gaming activity in the Netherlands had managed to gain access to Merkur Casino in Almere nine times.
When employees of the casino checked the data on the Cruks system of the person in question, an error message appeared and the casino was unable to verify whether or not the person was registered on the Cruks scheme.
The employees of the casino should have denied access to that individual, but the person managed to enter the casino nine times within the aforementioned period, resulting in the KSA issuing a fine of €45,000.
