- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has levied a €1.3 million (£1.1 million/$1.3 million) fine against Winning Poker Network (WPN) for operating unlicensed online poker activities in the Netherlands.
The KSA reached the decision in December but disclosed the penalty only last week. According to the regulator, WPN violated Dutch gambling laws by offering online poker without the necessary licence.
Dutch players were found to have access to online gambling services via AmericasCardroom.eu (ACR), a platform operated by WPN. The site provided a variety of poker games and tournaments, along with numerous promotional offers for customers.
KSA first flagged WPN in September 2022 for activities on both the ACR platform and WinningPokerNetwork.com. It discovered that ACR was accessible to players in the Netherlands, allowing account creation, deposits via Dutch credit cards, and participation in online poker games. Additionally, the site offered several casino games, which are prohibited under Dutch law. .
Further investigation revealed that ACR also listed several other websites under WPN, including TruePoker.eu (TP), BlackChipPoker.eu (BCP), and PokerKing.com (PK), all of which were accessible to Dutch players.
KSA conducted follow-up investigations in November 2022, confirming that ACR remained accessible to users in the Netherlands. However, a January 2023 probe revealed that ACR had ceased operations in the country.
Despite this, the investigation found that other WPN-affiliated sites remained active. Specifically, the TP site was accessible and offered online poker, sports betting, and illegal casino games. Additional investigations in February 2023 revealed similar activity on the BCP and PK platforms, with both hosting online poker and games of chance.
Following these findings, KSA issued a penalty notice to WPN in March 2023. Despite the warning, WPN failed to comply, and violations persisted into April of that year.
As a result, KSA imposed a €1.3 million fine on WPN. The penalty, initially set at €600,000, was increased due to “aggravating circumstances,” including repeat violations following multiple warnings.
“A penalty payment order is an effective way to quickly remove illegal offers,” said KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen. “However, these types of parties should not think that they will get off easy with this, so we are also imposing fines for the violation committed.
“With this, we hit them where it really hurts, namely in their wallets.”
The KSA reached the decision in December but disclosed the penalty only last week. According to the regulator, WPN violated Dutch gambling laws by offering online poker without the necessary licence.
Dutch players were found to have access to online gambling services via AmericasCardroom.eu (ACR), a platform operated by WPN. The site provided a variety of poker games and tournaments, along with numerous promotional offers for customers.
KSA first flagged WPN in September 2022 for activities on both the ACR platform and WinningPokerNetwork.com. It discovered that ACR was accessible to players in the Netherlands, allowing account creation, deposits via Dutch credit cards, and participation in online poker games. Additionally, the site offered several casino games, which are prohibited under Dutch law. .
Further investigation revealed that ACR also listed several other websites under WPN, including TruePoker.eu (TP), BlackChipPoker.eu (BCP), and PokerKing.com (PK), all of which were accessible to Dutch players.
KSA conducted follow-up investigations in November 2022, confirming that ACR remained accessible to users in the Netherlands. However, a January 2023 probe revealed that ACR had ceased operations in the country.
Despite this, the investigation found that other WPN-affiliated sites remained active. Specifically, the TP site was accessible and offered online poker, sports betting, and illegal casino games. Additional investigations in February 2023 revealed similar activity on the BCP and PK platforms, with both hosting online poker and games of chance.
Following these findings, KSA issued a penalty notice to WPN in March 2023. Despite the warning, WPN failed to comply, and violations persisted into April of that year.
As a result, KSA imposed a €1.3 million fine on WPN. The penalty, initially set at €600,000, was increased due to “aggravating circumstances,” including repeat violations following multiple warnings.
“A penalty payment order is an effective way to quickly remove illegal offers,” said KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen. “However, these types of parties should not think that they will get off easy with this, so we are also imposing fines for the violation committed.
“With this, we hit them where it really hurts, namely in their wallets.”
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