KSA Warns Winning Poker Network and Goldwin Ltd

KSA issued warnings to Winning Poker Network and Goldwin Ltd for operating without a Dutch license. While Goldwin stopped its operations, Winning Poker Network continued.

Therefore, Winning Poker Network faces periodic payments of €25,000 every week, up to a maximum of €75,000. Meanwhile, Goldwin received a penalty of €239,000, with a maximum of €717,000 if it offers games to Dutch players again.

Both companies can appeal KSA's decisions.

KSA Chairman, René Jansen, stressed the importance of legal compliance for gambling providers, stating that it is only possible by deterring illegal activity. Jansen reiterated KSA's commitment to stamping out such practices.

More About the Violations

The Americascardroom.eu website was found to be operated by Winning Poker Network in an investigation conducted by KSA. Apparently, the site had no measures in place to prevent Dutch customers from accessing it. Winning Poker Network is also the operator of Truepoker.eu, as discovered during the investigation.

To continue with the investigation, a separate account had to be created for Americascardroom.eu, since the login details created for Truepoker.eu did not work. On 28 November 2022, the regulator notified Winning Poker Network of its intention to impose a penalty. The operator responded on 12 December, stating that Dutch customers would no longer have access to Americascardroom.eu.

When KSA scrutinized Westcasino.com, it found that Goldwin, a company without a gambling license in the Netherlands, was operating the website. Between 1 March 2022 and 1 February 2023, Westcasino.com received 907,246 visits from the Netherlands.

More Info on the Regulator

Kansspelautoriteit, also known as the Dutch Gambling Authority, is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and regulating gambling activities in the Netherlands. Established in 2012, the Kansspelautoriteit ensures that gambling operators and providers operate in a fair, transparent, and responsible manner to protect consumers and prevent gambling-related issues.

One of the primary goals of the Kansspelautoriteit is to prevent illegal gambling and combat associated criminal activities. They enforce the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act, which outlines the rules and regulations for gambling activities in the country. The authority has the power to grant licenses to operators who meet the necessary criteria and can act against those who operate without authorization.

The Kansspelautoriteit focuses on both land-based and online gambling, including casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and remote gaming. They monitor the market, investigate complaints and reports of illegal activities, and impose sanctions or fines on operators who violate the regulations. The authority works closely with other national and international organizations to exchange information and collaborate on matters related to gambling regulation.

Source:

“KSA issues penalties to Winning Poker Network and Goldwin Ltd”, igamingbusiness.com, June 7, 2023.