The gaming regulator for the Netherlands has announced the issuance of an immediate ‘cease and desist’ order against prolific Malta-licensed online casino operator Gammix Limited.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) watchdog used an official Monday press release to declare that the firm has been found guilty of ‘illegally offering online games of chance’ to iGaming aficionados in the Netherlands ‘via various websites’. The diligent regulator went on to pronounce that the offending company now faces a weekly non-compliance fine of some $1.47 million that could eventually top out at almost $4.51 million.
Emerging enterprise:
The Netherlands is home to approximately 17.7 million people and premiered a newly-regulated iGaming market in October following many years of debate and consideration. The KSA has since gone on to license over 20 domains including the sites as HollandCasino.nl, BetCity.nl and Circus.nl although this club is expected to grow even further following the government’s recent decision to end its ‘cooling off period’ exclusion of those enterprises who had serviced Dutch players before legalization.
Contraband contention:
However, the KSA stated that none of the many iGaming sites operated by Gammix Limited have yet been licensed to offer their wares to punters in the Netherlands. This club of domains encompasses FlamingCasino.com, CrazePlay.com, TouchCasino.com and DBosses.com with the regulator acknowledging that ‘no supervision is possible’ so long as these remain unlicensed.
Discipline doubts:
The KSA furthermore asserted that the unlicensed nature of Gammix Limited ‘means that there is no control over’ a range of issues that may impact Dutch punters including ‘the fairness of games and whether sufficient attention is paid to addiction prevention’. Even though the operator is now allowed to appeal this fresh move within two weeks, it would likely run up against fierce opposition in attempting to overturn such a decision whilst simultaneously continuing to operate without a local license.
Popular port:
Gammix Limited is moreover responsible for the domains at GoSlot.com, Stake7.com, NordSlot.com and RantCasino.com with a KSA investigation showing that this latter site had racked up well over 31,000 Dutch visits during the 27 days from May 16. In its defence and the operator had claimed it never specifically targeted the iGaming market of the Netherlands and was simply offering online gaming entertainment in accordance with the laws of the European Union through its Maltese license.
Read a statement from the KSA…
“Since October 1, 2021, online games of chance in the Netherlands have been legalized under strict conditions. The objective is to create a safe environment for people who want to gamble online and this includes taking a strict approach to illegal providers.”