Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit has imposed a €400,000 fine on Exinvest Limited and 1X Corp NV, two entity’s behind gambling websites 1xbet.com and xbet-1.com.
Relating to illegal activities by the Cyprus based Exinvest and Curaçao’s 1X Corp, research by the authority highlighted that during a certain time-frame both gambling websites could be accessed from the Netherlands.
It was also further highlighted that the Dutch language was used and payment could be made via the Dutch service method iDeal, with many games of chances found to be on offer, including those of live casino games such as roulette and blackjack.
The investigation undertaken by the Ksa revealed that Exinvest Limited and 1X Corp were behind another 83 Dutch gambling websites, which you could log in to utilising the same player account.
In its ruling the Ksa stressed that “foreign providers of online games of chance must respect Dutch law,” via adjusting settings so that they can not be seen with Dutch IP addresses.
René Jansen, chairman of the board of directors of the Ksa, emphasised that in enforcing the law the Ksa places a primary focus upon suppliers who focus on the Dutch consumer: “Online gambling in the Netherlands is illegal. Under the current legal regime for companies, it is not possible to get a license for offering online games of chance. Consumers are not assured of a safe game on an honest market with illegal providers.”
This ruling follows the Netherlands voting to adopt its Remote Gaming Act, in excess of two and a half years after the bill was originally passed in the lower house.
The new law is expected to come into force during Q3 2020 at the earliest, with licence applications also beginning to be accepted the same year and gaming tax being set at 29 per cent of GGR.
Further adopted motions passed will see operators who have deliberately targeted the Dutch market having to endure a two-year blackout period and the potential of IP/DNS blocking in the future, whilst an online gambling ad ban is also a possibility.
