The KSA understood that the information provided by the company was incorrect, evasive or incomplete
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) announced that the court in Hague has agreed with the regulator’s decision to block a Maltese operator with alleged ties to the murder of an investigative journalist. The Dutch regulator refused the gambling company’s application in 2023, triggering legal proceedings.
The Operator’s Application Was Shot Down
For context, the Malta-based operator in question applied for a license in 2023, seeking to tap into the budding gaming market in the Netherlands. However, the KSA expressed concerns about the business’ involvement in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a famous journalist who investigated bribery and corruption scandals involving gambling industry stakeholders.
Galizia was killed in a car bombing in 2017 and was never able to reveal her discoveries.
When conducting its regular integrity checks, the Kansspelautoriteit requested additional information from the license applicant. During the investigation into the Maltese company, the KSA requested information about the involvement of a former shareholder who is believed to have been tied to the murder of Galizia.
The KSA understood that the information provided by the company was incorrect, evasive or incomplete. As a result, the authority refused to give it a license.
Hague Court Sided with KSA
The operator triggered legal proceedings against the KSA, seeking to enter the Dutch gaming market despite the regulator’s initial license denial. However, the Hague has now agreed with the KSA’s decision to refuse the company’s license application.
According to the court, the fact that the operator had provided incorrect or incomplete information is reason enough to question its reliability and deny it a license.
The KSA emphasized that integrity tests are a key part of its responsibilities as the gambling regulator in the Netherlands. The authority reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest regulatory standards and ensuring that its licensees and license applicants are honest and transparent.
KSA Continues to Monitor the Dutch Market
Speaking of transparency issues, the KSA recently imposed a penalty payment order on a gambling company that provided incomplete and incorrect information.
In addition to that, the KSA continued to penalize and warn companies violating the Netherlands’ gambling regulations by providing illegal gaming or breaching the rules licensees are expected to follow.
In January, the KSA took action against the provider of illegal bingo games and ads. Around the same time, it issued a EUR 1.05 million fine to Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, an unlicensed operator based in Costa Rica.
At the beginning of the year, the KSA vowed to increase its oversight and double down on its efforts to shield the Dutch market from fraud.
More recently, Dutch lawmakers proposed raising the age limit for high-risk gambling products from 18 to 21 and providing the Kansspelautoriteit with more powers to block offshore companies. Although the KSA didn’t object to the latter, it expressed certain concerns about the former measure.
