CyberRock Entertainment fined €350,000 by Dutch regulators

CyberRock Entertainment NV and Honeydew Trading Limited have been fined a total of €350,000 by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) for offering online gambling in the Netherlands without a licence.

The organisations, which are based in Cyprus, were found to be offering Dutch language gaming websites play2wincasino.com and supremeplay.com to Dutch citizens.

Under the KSA prioritisation criteria, operators can be assessed by the KSA if they have a website which: features the Dutch language, uses a website with the .nl extension, uses Dutch in its advertising, uses typical Dutch terms or symbols (including windmills, clogs and tulips) and if their website uses the “usual” method of payment in Holland.

Operators found to be violating these criteria in any way can be subject to fines. Mr Green, Betsson and Bet-at-home have all been fined over the last six months, as the regulator looks to stamp out illegal gambling.

However, according to a recent survey by a Dutch TV station revealed that only 38% of respondents knew that egaming was illegal, with 39% believing that egaming is fully legalised in the Netherlands and a further 22% of respondents did not know.

René Jansen, chairman of the board of directors of the KSA, said: “Many Dutch people do not know that online gambling in the Netherlands is illegal. Protecting consumers is an important objective of the KSA, in addition to preventing gambling addiction and combating illegality.

Jansen added: “Gambling with an illegal provider implies that the consumer is not protected. He is not sure of a fair game. There is also no control of participation by vulnerable groups, such as minors.”