Hillside, associated with Bet365, is slapped with a $400K penalty by Kansspelautoriteit for regulatory violations
Cashing Out an Eye-Watering Fine for Bet365 in the Netherlands
The gambling watchdog in the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has slapped a substantial penalty on Hillside New Media Malta, a subsidiary of Bet365, currently operating in the country. The whopping €400,000 ($373,600) fine was revealed recently.
According to the KSA, Hillside violated marketing rules that prohibit targeting young adults, specifically those aged 18 to 24. Considering young adults are still in their formative years, the law aims to shield them from the potential addictive impacts of gambling.
"The brains of young people are still developing. As a result, they are extra vulnerable to developing gambling addiction. Gaming providers must fully respect the rules intended to protect vulnerable groups"
The fine follows an investigation into Hillside's dealings. The KSA discovered that young adults in the specified age bracket registered with the company between October 26, 2021, and February 1, 2022, were targeted with ads offering bonuses. These interactions are against the law and led to the heavy fine. This is the third such fine levied against an operator owing to breaches in advertising to young people.
"The KSA found that Hillside had directed advertisements and bonuses to young adults (18-24-year-olds) registered with Hillside in the period from October 26, 2021 to February 1, 2022. That is prohibited. This is the third fine for a permit holder for advertising aimed at young people"
A Busy Slate for the KSA
The latest fine against Hillside follows last week's financial penalty imposed on Gammix by the KSA. The regulator claimed that the company provided services to Dutch customers without the necessary permit. Despite being given a chance to rectify the situation, Gammix failed to take any corrective action, resulting in a €4,410,000 ($4.7 million) fine.
Prior to that, in March, the KSA announced fines totaling over $27 million against five operators due to their unauthorized offerings on the Dutch market.
[1] Source: Dutch Gaming Authority Website - Financial Penalty Against Hillside New Media Malta (Bet365)[2] Source: Dutch Gaming Authority Website - License Information for Hillside New Media Malta[3] Source: Dutch Gaming Authority Website - Fines Against Gambling Operators in March 2022
- The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has also fined Gammix, another operator in the Netherlands, €4,410,000 ($4.7 million) for providing services to Dutch customers without the necessary permit.
- The KSA noted that despite being given a chance to rectify the situation, Gammix failed to take any corrective action, leading to the hefty fine.
- In March, the KSA announced fines totaling over $27 million against five operators due to their unauthorized offerings on the Dutch market.
- News sources revealed that this is not the first or the last time the KSA will be taking action against operators violating regulations in the casino-and-gambling business.
- The crime-and-justice section of general news outlets is likely to carry ongoing reports about the KSA's efforts to enforce regulations and protect consumers from potential exploitation in the gambling industry.
