Dutch Regulator KSA Takes Action Against 15 Affiliate Websites

Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has taken action against 15 affiliate websites it said were advertising illegal online games of chance to players in the country.

From a total of 22 investigations, the regulator identified 15 websites that had breached the Dutch Gambling Act and were as such deemed to have broken national law.

KSA did not disclose the identity of any of the affiliates or the sites they were promoting, but it did state that 13 of the affiliates could be subject to a penalty, depending on what action they take in response to the KSA warning. The other two sites remain under investigation.

In some cases, the KSA said that the affiliate immediately stopped advertising for unlicensed providers, while other affiliates switched to advertising for licensed operators.

At the first instance, KSA issues cease-and-desist orders to affiliates, after which it carries out re-inspections to monitor activity. If the website does not halt illegal activities, then KSA can issue a financial penalty.

“Offering games of chance without a license is prohibited; the same applies to advertising games of chance that are not licensed. With affiliate marketing, sites receive money when they click through to the online game of chance and the KSA periodically conducts research into these advertisers,” KSA said.