The Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), has issued a fine of €6.8m ($7.2m) to GoldWin Limited, due to the operator offering illegal casino games to its customers.
After a thorough investigation, it was found that GoldWin had violated the Gambling Act (Wok) by operating its website, westcasino.com, without a licence from the KSA.
The website had no technical measures in place to prevent customers from the Netherlands from accessing it, such as an IP block.
Investigators from the KSA found that they could access the website, create an account and participate in online gambling without any problems.
Not only that, but the ages of players were not verified either.
The KSA first contacted GoldWin in January 2023, when the Authority issued a warning to the operator to cease the illegal activities.
However, GoldWin did not comply – instead, the accounts that were recognised as being owned by the inspectors of the KSA were blocked from visiting the site, while the standard customer ones were not.
In response to this, the KSA ordered GoldWin to pay a penalty on 20 April 2023, but the operator refused to comply again.
As such, the operator will receive a fine of €6,794,000, determined by the estimated turnover received from Dutch players.
René Jansen, KSA Chairman of the Board, said: “With an order subject to incremental penalty payments, we can often quickly put a stop to illegal supply.
“That does not mean that previously committed illegal activities disappear from view: they can still be punished.”
This isn't the only fine issued by the KSA today, though, with a €900,000 penalty given to MKC for offering illegal games of chance.
