Listen to this article:The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a stern warning to an organisation it has penalised in the past, saying that if it repeats its illegal bingo activities, it will be hit with large fines.
The KSA announced that it will impose fines of €8,000 to Dordtse Queens every time it runs an illegal bingo session, with the total fines potentially reaching up to €80,000.
Last November, the KSA stopped an illegal bingo operation run by Dordtse Queens. Despite an earlier reprimand, the organization continued to organize and promote unauthorized bingo sessions. In response, the KSA has now implemented additional penalty payment orders on the two organizers involved. These orders include fines of €4,000 for every illegal bingo advertisement, with a cap of €40,000.
The regulator explained that it is increasingly finding illegal bingo nights that “do not meet the requirements of a small game of chance and where large prizes can be won.”
Dutch law allows bingo to be conducted as a “small game of chance” among acquaintances, such as family, friends, or nursing home residents. The total value of prizes in such sessions must not exceed €1,550. Additionally, the organizing party must notify the local municipality to obtain permission for the bingo game.
During the November raid on the Dordtse Queens, the KSA found approximately 200 attendees. The authority stated:
“The KSA sees that people are not always aware of the rules surrounding bingo and lotteries. For bingo, participation in an illegal bingo is in principle also punishable, and that minors are not allowed to participate anyway. Organisers of illegal lotteries and bingo also risk a sanction, such as the above-mentioned penalty payments.”
Upon raiding the premises, the KSA found that prizes, including branded clothing, bags, and shoes, were being offered.
The November 2023 raid came after the KSA took action against the organisation after it was found to be advertising online bingo sites on social media platforms such as Facebook. While the Facebook adverts were taken down, the KSA found that Dordtse Queens continued to advertise on other platforms.
Michel Groothuizen assumed his role as the KSA’s new chairman on July 1 and the warning to Dordtse Queens came soon after. This week, on 17 July, Groothuizen gave his debut speech as chairman and he warned that illegal operators have been “stretching the limits of what is permissible”. It looks like the case where KSA stopped an illegal bingo operation won’t be an isolated incident.
For instance, he said that unlicenced operators have been using the KSA logo and Google Maps adverts to target players through the national self-exclusion register Cruks. As such, he pleaded for licensed operators to “do everything they can” to protect players.
Groothuizen also said that he will be pushing for the KSA to be given additional powers to block illegal gambling sites. The country’s Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op Afstand) is due to be reviewed later this year and it is likely that stricter regulations will be introduced as a result.
While Groothuizen attacked unlicensed operators, he praised legal operators for complying with the rules, particularly over the Euro 2024 tournament.
“We called on gambling operators to show their best side, and yes, they have shown it. But this did involve closely following laws and regulations. Almost no legal operators crossed the line.”
Groothuizen also said that he was not in favour of a total ban on gambling advertising and said that while the Dutch gambling market is “incredibly dynamic” it must remain attractive to operators.
“Gambling operators must be able to present themselves to players. Although we are now dealing with new ministers, our message has not changed at all.”
In good news for players, Groothuizen also said that while the House of Representatives voted for a ban on online slots in April, it does not look likely to become law.
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