17 Nov

Gambling News

Dutch regulatory authority terminates illicit bingo activity

The Dutch gaming authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has terminated an unlawful bingo operation in Dordrecht, close to Rotterdam.

Loss limits for bingo in Norway
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia previously proceeded against the same outfit, which it claimed organised events that drew hundreds of attendees. The regulator stated that minors were present at the unlawful bingo activities.

A prior KSA investigation revealed that the "Dordtse Queens" operation was promoting bingo on Facebook. Meta, the parent firm of the social networking site, removed these pages upon communication from KSA.

Subsequent investigations by KSA uncovered that the same outfit persisted in advertising and conducting illegal bingo on more pages.

Prizes seized during the raid
Inspectors from KSA located a proposed physical bingo event in Dordrecht. A raid was conducted at the location, where around 200 individuals were present. The prizes available comprised branded apparel, purses, and footwear, all of which were seized during the raid. 

Dutch legislation stipulates that bingo is permissible alone under certain circumstances. This encompasses a game occurring among a confined group of individuals who are acquainted, such as family members or colleagues inside a corporation.

Organisations may also conduct bingo events for charitable purposes, with prizes limited to a maximum value of €1,550 (£1,356/$1,683). These game categories necessitate a permit from the local municipality.

KSA stated, "Individuals are often unaware of the regulations governing bingos and lotteries." Participation in illicit bingo is inherently penal, and minors are categorically prohibited from participating. Organisers of illicit lotteries and bingo games also face substantial fines.

The KSA is intensifying efforts to combat unlawful gaming within the Dutch market.
This case exemplifies KSA's ongoing initiatives to combat unlawful gambling within the nation.

In the previous month, MKC Limited was penalised €900,000 for unlawfully providing gaming services in the Netherlands. The organisation permitted Dutch citizens to participate at its unlawful Betworld247 platform.

Players could register an account using Dutch address information at Betworld247 and engage in online gaming. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stated that no technical steps had been implemented to exclude players from the Netherlands, referencing potential IP blockades as an illustration. 

KSA asserts that MKC's acts contravened the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act. This requires all operators to get municipal licenses to lawfully provide gaming services.

MKC was also revoked of its Maltese licence earlier this year.