The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) continues its tough stance against erring operators in 2023, imposing a massive €900,000 fine on a gambling firm offering its services to Dutch customers without the required license.
Shark77 Fined for Unlicensed Operations
The operator in question is Shark77 which is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. It runs several gaming websites, such as SportEmpire, CasinoWinNow, and 18bet. According to KSA, Shark77 allowed players in the Netherlands to participate in games of chance despite not having a license to operate in the country, which is a violation of the Betting and Gaming Act (KOA Act).
Unauthorized firms offer their services without strong player protection measures as licensed operators. They also do not pay their fair share of taxes to the government. Such actions jeopardize the channeling to the legal offer and are considered serious and highly undesirable, according to KSA Chair René Jansen.
KSA Continues to Crack Down on Violators
The €900,000 fine imposed on Shark77 marks the first enforcement action taken by the KSA in 2023. The agency remains committed to keeping a gambling environment that provides fair play and adequate protection for players.
Last year, the KSA also sanctioned Toto Online for targeted advertising of its gambling services to young customers. The company, owned by Nederlandse Loterij, was handed a €400,000 fine for its advertising violations.