Dutch authorities come down on gambling affiliates

Casino affiliates have long played fast and loose with laws regarding unlicensed online gambling sites. Players from one country are frequently sent to websites that are not, technically, legal for them to play at and no one has much cared, until now.
Earlier this week, Dutch gaming regulators at the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) launched an effort to crack down on gambling affiliates who engage in this practice and they’re not afraid to use every tool at their disposal to bring renegade affiliates in line.
According to a report on iGamingBusiness.com, the KSA has already taken action of one kind or another against 23 sites they believe are sending Dutch customers to illegal sites. The sites in question were identified in a recently conducted study.
The study, which relied on information provided by licensed casino sites, initially identified 44 sites that were not in compliance with Dutch laws. Of those 44 sites, 26 were identified as having promoted unauthorized gambling. When contacted by the KSA, 20 of those sites immediately dropped their promotions aimed at Dutch players and were back in compliance. Another three sites are still under investigation and three more were not responsive at all.
Dutch authorities, who are in the process of building a regulated market that should launch in 2020, say that these actions are critical in helping Dutch players avoid unscrupulous gambling sites. A KSA spokesman told iGamingBusiness.com, “Protecting consumers is an important objective of the KSA. Participants in games of chance from providers without a licence are not guaranteed a fair game. Nor is it possible to monitor the participation of vulnerable groups, such as young people.”