KSA clamps down on illegal online bingo and lottery operators
Dutch regulator penalises Luxury Bingo and BSB Shop for offering online gambling via Facebook without a licence
The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed cease and desist orders on two illegal gambling firms for offering online bingo and online lottery on Facebook.
Luxury Bingo and BSB Shop were both operating without a licence on the social network, with the latter also live on the Discord instant messaging platform.
Luxury Bingo was ordered to stop operating by the KSA and did so for a brief period before rekindling operations. The page has since been removed by Facebook under the guidance of the KSA.
The firm has been charged at €3,000 per violation up to a maximum of €30,000.
Meanwhile, BSB Shop switched to Discord after being ordered to halt Facebook wagering by the KSA. The penalty in this case is €7,000 per violation up to a maximum of €35,000.
The regulator has moved to warn Dutch consumers against participating in illegal online gambling with the licensed market scheduled to go live on 1 October.
“Participants in illegal games of chance are not assured of a fair game,” said the KSA.
“Is the draw fair? Are there real prizes? Is there no question of fraud? The KSA therefore warns consumers against participating.
“For some time now, the KSA has been working with Facebook to put a stop to this kind of illegal practice.”
Tombola is widely expected to become the first fully licensed bingo-centric operator in the newly regulated Dutch market.