KSA imposes €1.1 million fine on Alimaniere for illegal online gambling

Sudhanshu Ranjan January 7, 2025

SiGMA news

KSA imposes €1.1 million fine on Alimaniere for illegal online gambling

The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has fined Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada €1.1 million for the illegal operation of online gambling websites targeting Dutch players. The KSA is mandated to safeguard consumers, eliminate gambling dependency, and counter any illegal operations.

Current regulatory operations of KSA

The KSA strictly adheres to regulatory principles to ensure a well-controlled and safe gambling environment. Following the regulation of online gambling in the Netherlands in 2021, the authority intensified its monitoring of online operators. Protecting Dutch players from unlicensed and potentially hazardous activities has been the KSA’s primary ambition. By enforcing strict regulations, only legally compliant operators are allowed to offer gambling services in the Netherlands.

Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada has faced regulatory scrutiny multiple times. Initially targeting Dutch players, Alimaniere launched time2spin.com, which received a KSA warning for regulatory non-compliance and was subsequently blocked.

The operator then launched timetospin1.com, leading to a fresh investigation and a €1.1 million fine for repeated infringements. Despite the KSA blocking time2spin.com, Alimaniere established timetospin1.com, allowing players to transfer their accounts and disregarding earlier regulatory rulings.

Unauthorise online gambling operations

Time2spin.com offered various gambling services without the required endorsement, attracting the KSA’s attention due to its popularity among Dutch players. The rebranding and re-launch as timetospin1.com was a clear attempt to evade the KSA’s restrictions by continuing to serve Dutch players under a new guise. Alimaniere employed aggressive marketing strategies to sell illicit products to Dutch players, further cementing their presence in the illegal gambling market.

Chairman Michel Groothuizen stressed the importance of players being able to choose a regulated market and criticised illegal providers for their negligence regarding the risks of gambling.

Commenting on the penalty, KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen stated, “The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely. With illegal providers, we often see that no account is taken of the prevention of risky gaming behaviour. We therefore take tough action against these types of parties.”

Following the fine, Alimaniere’s operations in the Netherlands have been significantly curtailed, with their websites rendered inaccessible. The financial and reputational damage from the fine is substantial, likely deterring Alimaniere from further regulatory breaches.

Explanation of new 2025 fine policy

The KSA’s new 2025 fine policy categorises violations and corresponding penalties, aiming to deter operators from engaging in unauthorised practices by imposing heavier fines for serious breaches. The fine exceeded the standard penalty due to the severity and recurrence of the violations. The basic penalty of €600,000 was nearly doubled, reflecting the gravity of Alimaniere’s disregard for regulatory compliance.