Winning Poker Network has been issued with a cease and desist order in the Netherlands after it was discovered that Dutch nationals could participate in illegal online games via one of the group’s websites.
This came after a September 2022 investigation that was undertaken by the Dutch gaming authority, Kansspelautoriteit, following which it is said that the provider “promised” to terminate these practices.
However, despite a recheck showing that the original website was no longer accessible from the Netherlands, a closer inspection showcased a further infraction.
This, said the Ksa, showed that a new account could easily be created on another website of the same provider, which made it possible to participate in games offered via that website.
WPN supports several global poker rooms, including AmericasCardRoom, YaPoker, BlackChipPoker, TruePoker and PokerKing.
Due to the fact that the supply of illegal games of chance had not been completely stopped, the Ksa has imposed an order subject to periodic penalty payments.
Should WPN maintain its operation without a valid licence, the group will forfeit €25,000 per week up to a maximum of €75,000.
Already this year, the Ksa has been on something of a regulatory rampage after issuing a slew of sanctions, which includes handing out penalties of €900,000 to Shark77, €400,000 to Joi Gaming, €350,000 to Bingoal and €900,000 each to Equinox Dynamic from Curaçao and Slovakia’s Domiseda and Partners.
Furthermore, a total of €26m in penalties was handed down to N1 Interactive (€12.64m), Videoslots (€9.87m), Betpoint Group (€1.78m), Probe Investments (€1.12m) and Fairload (€900,000), as part of a total package of €26m.
During the current month, the Ksa also voiced an intention to collect a €4.41m penalty payment from Gammix after an appeal to the sanction was rejected, with Hillside New Media Malta, bet365’s Malta-based operating company, fined €400,000 and a fine of €675,000 fine issued to Red Ridge Marketing.
