Dutch betting finance risk check debate flares up
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The Dutch gambling regulator has updated its general fine policy covering a range of areas, including violations of money laundering licence requirements.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) revealed today (2 January) that the fine policy will cover five categories, ranging from a category one fine of €500 and a category five fine of €2m, with the latter only applying to Wwft violations.

Wwft is the abbreviation for the Netherlands Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act, a key piece of legislation for the Dutch finance and gambling bodies in place since 2008.

The remaining fine categories relate to the KOA Act, the primary piece of legislation governing the Dutch gambling sectors since 2021. The highest category of non-Wwft related fines, category four, is up to €1m.

Michel Groothuizen, the KSA’s Chairman of the Board, said: ‘The Ksa is becoming increasingly professional as an organization. After the opening of the online market in 2021, we were given a new category of license holders.

“In 2022, we imposed a first fine on a license holder. We have now gained enough experience to arrive at a well-considered fine policy for both license holders and other parties. This creates clarity for the parties under our supervision and hopefully motivates them even more to avoid fines.”

The KSA has adopted a nine step policy for how fines will be calculated. Factors for consideration include the seriousness of a violation, evaluations of culpability and operator gross turnover.

The stages of calculating a fine allow licence holders to present special circumstances or mitigating factors like voluntary reporting and correcting actions, and the latter steps focus on the proportionality and fairness of the fine.

The KSA, like various other national gambling regulators, has been active in investigating and issuing fines against unlicensed gaming operators and companies which fail to adhere to licensing standards.

In July 2024 the regulator issued a fine against Holland Casino, one of the country’s largest casino companies, and the following month issued warnings to operators due to payment restrictions.