The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a fine of €19.7 million on Gammix for providing gambling services to Dutch residents without proper authorization.
On Thursday, the regulatory body said on its website that this move comes after an earlier penalty of €4 million was levied against Gammix.
According to the KSA, Gammix’ violations include inadequate age verification procedures for players, the possibility of anonymous deposits, and the presence of autoplay and turboplay casino games on its websites.
Authorities discovered that Gammix’s websites were accessible from Dutch IP addresses, and deposits could be made using Dutch bank accounts.
Among the websites targeted by the KSA’s fine are rantcasino.com, betoriginal.com, bluvegas.com, cashimashi.com, goslot.com, nordslot.com, vegadream.com, and scatters.com.
Gammix maintains not targeting Dutch
In response to earlier warnings from the KSA in June 2022 and a subsequent announcement of a fine in March 2023, Gammix failed to take sufficient action to prevent further penalties.
Gammix refuted claims by the KSA, asserting that its websites did not intentionally target Dutch residents.
However, Dutch law considers it unlawful if players can directly participate in online gambling, regardless of the targeting intent.
The presence of Dutch options in drop-down menus and Dutch area codes on the websites further supported the KSA’s case.
Despite objections from Gammix, the KSA utilized various sources to estimate the company’s turnover in the Netherlands, as the company refused to provide financial information.
Lack of screening measures for minors raised
Moreover, concerns about the lack of proper screening measures for minors engaging in gambling activities were raised by the regulator.
René Jansen, Chair of the KSA, emphasized the importance of protecting Dutch players from illegal gambling activities, citing the disregard for player welfare and age verification as serious issues.
KSA to enforce sanctions vs. violators
The KSA vowed to continue enforcing sanctions against violators, even in cases of repeated offenses.
While Gammix’s operators are listed as being incorporated in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean and approved by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the company is still listed on the database of authorized companies by the Maltese Gambling Authority, despite not mentioning Malta as a headquarters or licensing authority on its websites.
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