Dutch Gaming Authority levies big fine against Shark77

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has fined Shark77 Ltd. a fine of €900,000. Shark77 gave players in the Netherlands the opportunity to participate in games of chance without the required license. This is prohibited under the Betting and Gaming Act. Enforcing this ban is one of the priorities of the Ksa. Because Shark77 has violated this prohibition, a fine has been imposed.

Illegal offer fined
Casino games and sports betting were offered on the website. No technical measures were taken to prevent participants from the Netherlands from accessing the games of chance. The Gaming Authority has imposed a fine for the violation.

Threat to channeling to legal supply
Offering online games of chance is only allowed with a license from the Gaming Authority. This is subject to strict rules and regulations aimed at ensuring that there is a safe legal offer, whereby players are assured of fair play and are protected against gambling addiction. A licensed provider of online games of chance has costs that illegal providers of online games of chance do not have to incur. In addition, illegal providers do not pay any tax in the Netherlands and are not restricted in the conduct of their business by the strict rules of the Betting and Gaming Act and the associated licensing regulations. This allows illegal providers to offer a different offer, for example by offering games of chance that are prohibited for license holders.

“These providers can thus have an attractive effect on players and jeopardize the channeling to the legal offer,” said René Jansen, chairman of the Ksa. “We consider this serious and highly undesirable. Dutch players deserve the good protection of providers with a license from the Gaming Authority.”