The Dutch gambling regulator has for the first time taken enforcement action against a licensee for duty of care failings.
A €734,000 fine has been imposed on a regulated operator, whose identity has yet to be revealed after the company requested a preliminary injunction to prevent publication.
The regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), said it began investigating signs of “large losses” incurred by young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 on the operator's platform.
In analysing 10 player files with the highest losses, the KSA said violations of the duty of care rules for players were found in all cases.
It said some of the players lost tens of thousands of euros, often in “relatively short periods” of time.
“We have a regulated gambling market based on the idea that those who wish to gamble should be able to do so safely. That's why providers have a duty of care toward their players and must respond appropriately to excessive gambling,” said KSA chair Michel Groothuizen.
“Major losses are an important warning sign. We've intensified our supervision of online duty of care, and violations like the ones found here will be dealt with strictly – because we no longer want to see providers falling this far short of their responsibilities, especially regarding vulnerable young players."
The KSA said it will “immediately publish” the name of the company if it is allowed to do so.
Read more: €1.2m fine for unlicensed gambling brand in Netherlands
