KSA kickstarts offshore market clampdown with fine for Tipico

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has enforced a fine of €531,250 on the Malta-based subsidiary of German operator Tipico for illegally offering online gambling to Dutch consumers. According to the regulator, online gambling was offered via the tipico.com website, which led to a fine of €200,000. This was then increased three times by €75,000. The three penalty hikes were imposed due to the bonuses and large number of games on offer, as well as Tipico’s use of an inactivity fee and the fact it offered live betting to players in the country. The fine was then increased even further because the age of the players was not visibly verified by the operator. The KSA said live betting carried a higher addiction risk than bets placed pre-match. As a result of the enforcement, Tipico’s website can no longer be reached with a Dutch IP address and they appear unlikely to receive a licence when the regulated market goes live on 1 October. Earlier this week, the KSA announced it was determined to clamp down on illegal operators by enforcing stricter punishments to keep the country’s channelisation rate at a respectable level. Under new regulations, illegal operators with turnover of more than €15m will be fined 4% of their total turnover. The regulator will announce which companies have succeeded in obtaining a licence by the end of this month.