Dutch Regulator Doubles Down on Gammix with Largest Ever Fine

KSA chairman René Jansen is going after unregulated sites that serve Dutch players without regard to safe online gambling practices. (Image: courtesy of Netherlands Gaming Authority)

The Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA) has issued its largest ever fine of €19.6 million to Gammix Limited for offering online gambling to Dutch consumers without a license.

Announcing the fine on Friday, the KSA highlighted a number of websites operated by the firm, including rantcasino.com, betoriginal.com, bluvegas.com, cashimashi.com, goslot.com, nordslot.com, vegadream.com and scatters.com, all of which are available to Dutch players.

In making them available to Dutch players without first obtaining a licence, Gammix has contravened the Dutch Remote Gambling Act.

The KSA investigated the firm under it so-called “prioritisation” criteria, which allows the regulator to scrutinise any gambling website that features Dutch-facing imagery, uses the Dutch language or is available for access by Dutch players.

“Dutch players must be protected,” KSA chairman René Jansen said. “That is why we are cracking down on illegal offers. We see that illegal providers often pay little attention to the player and do not adhere to a duty of care. “

In determining the level of fine levied, the KSA examines the estimated turnover of the company from the Dutch market, as well as other extenuating circumstances.

The KSA cited Gammix for a lack of age verification and its use of autoplay and turboplay functions, both of which perceptually encourage at-risk gambling, as well as other “unreasonable” conditions.

Caught in a KSA Crackdown, Again

Gammix Limited has lodged an appeal against the KSA fine in the Dutch courts, which will review whether the regulator acted fairly in fining the firm, as well as scrutinising the proportionality of the fine.

“With this provider, there was no clear age verification,” Jansen said. “That is extremely harmful. We will therefore continue to take sanctions, even if providers repeatedly make mistakes.”

Gammix has a history of being in the KSA’s crosshairs, having previously been fined for offering online gambling illegally to Dutch players on the rantcasino and nordslot casino websites. 

At the time, the KSA ordered the firm to cease all offerings to Dutch players, later levying a fine of €4 million on the firm in February 2023. 

Gammix appealed both the decision to disclose details of the investigation and the fine itself, but in both cases dropped its challenge.

New Regulatory Objectives

Earlier this week, the KSA released its 2024 Supervisory Agenda, detailing its strategies to achieve the regulatory objective of promoting safe play in the market, as well as outlining focus areas.

Key objectives include imposing a duty of care on licensed operators, addiction prevention, combating illegal online sites, supporting partners and conducting independent investigations and ensuring compliance with data delivery.

Changes to this year’s agenda include a more data-driven approach to risk-based monitoring and enhanced effectiveness of interventions targeting the entire illegal gambling supply chain.

Additionally, compliance with advertising regulations, especially those aimed at protecting young individuals, remains a crucial focus area for the KSA.

The publication follows an investigation by the regulator into the activities of several gambling affiliate sites promoting illegal online gambling to Dutch players. The KSA found breaches at and issued cease-and-desist letters to 14 of 33 sites they investigated.