The Netherlands’ gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has said it will increase fines for companies using the coronavirus pandemic as a sales pitch by at least €50,000.
KSA said it had witnessed operators using the virus as form of marketing in its igaming offers, with titles such as “coronaviruj gokken” (corona-free gambling) in messages sent to playerS online.
As a result, all players in the igaming industry in the country caught using these tactics would be charged an additional 25 per cent on the existing fine, which would now start at €250,000. The fines may be increased further if the companies are caught breaching rules more than once.
“The KSA sees that illegal providers (both online and physical) are luring consumers with terms such as 'corona-free gambling' and variants,” the organisation said.
“Illegal providers of physical games of chance are also fined more heavily if they promote their offer with references to the current situation. The same goes for advertisers, such as affiliate and review websites,” it added.
