SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Online gambling provider Sarah Eternal S.R.L has been warned by the Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) over targeting local customers without the necessary licence.
According to the KSA, the company used its ‘casinosky’ website domain to offer games of chance, which is prohibited in the Netherlands without having a relevant permit.
“Providers who do not have a licence for the Dutch market must do everything possible to ensure that Dutch players cannot go to them to gamble,” the regulator said in a statement.
Following a signal, KSA launched an investigation into the matter which showed that its inspectors could freely open an account and make deposits on the website, completely in breach of the Dutch licensing regime in place.
If Sarah Eternal does not withdraw its offering and the infringement continues, KSA has warned that the provider will be imposed a €280,000-per-week penalty, which could accumulate to a maximum of €840,000.
The warning comes ahead of the Netherlands’ updated Responsible Gaming Policy being implemented in June, followed by additional safer gambling measures rolling out in October.
In December, gaming stakeholders were given an extension by KSA to voice their opinion on the proposed changes, which will strengthen the duty of care for all lcensed operators in the country.
The reforms will be a result of a number of Dutch MPs, as well as Legal Minister Franc Weerwind scrutinising the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), which put the Dutch gambling market on the map back in 2021.
