SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands gambling authority, has launched an investigation into affiliate websites that have breached its rules by promoting illegal/unlicensed operators.
Of concern, KSA detailed that the websites had targeted vulnerable players using domains such as ‘casinowithoutcruks’ and ‘casinowithoutlicense’ – that deliberately promoted illicit operators in breach of KOA laws and requirements.
The websites were discovered following an online sweep by KSA, monitoring websites promoting Dutch-language gambling offers.
KSA stated that the affiliates’ intentions were blatantly illicit as they targeted at-risk or addicted players providing information on how to bypass CRUKS self-exclusion requirements.
Under KOA laws in place since 1 October, all Dutch licensed operators must centralise their player databases with the CRUKS self-exclusion scheme.
KSA demands that all licensed operators carry out CRUKS background checks when registering a new customer.
This latest action by the regulator comes after 15 affiliates were targeted by the KSA in December 2021 for promoting illegal online games of chance after 22 investigations were conducted.
“KSA thinks it’s bad that these affiliates focus on problem players. In addition to offering games of chance without a licence, promoting illegal offerings is also prohibited,” the authority detailed.
Dutch operators have been warned by KSA Chairman René Jensen that they must ensure that “gambling advertising remains moderate” during World Cup 2022.
Jensen warned that KSA would closely monitor licensed operators advertising conduct during the tournament, reporting back to Justice Minister Franc Weerwind who is charged with completing the KOA regime’s stage-1 reforms focused on improving consumer safeguards and underage protections.
