Ksa Imposes €2.65 Million Penalty on Betcity for Neglecting Young Players’ Safety

The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit, has taken a firm stance by levying a hefty €2.65 million fine against Betent, the operator behind Betcity. The regulator’s action was driven by concerns that the company fell short in protecting young adults from the dangers of excessive gambling and potential addiction. This enforcement measure followed a detailed investigation that centered on players aged 18 to 23, many of whom experienced significant financial setbacks. Ksa €2.65 Betcity

The Ksa’s investigation was sparked by reports of mounting losses among young users. As part of their probe, authorities examined ten accounts that recorded the highest levels of loss. It was found that these young adults had lost tens of thousands of euros within a relatively brief timeframe, raising alarms about the vulnerability of this demographic.

Dutch gambling operators are legally mandated to keep a close eye on player behavior and to intervene when signs of harmful gambling patterns become evident. The Ksa’s conclusion was clear: Betcity had not adequately discharged this duty of care towards its at-risk customers. The failure to implement sufficient safeguards underscores the importance of responsible gambling practices that protect vulnerable populations.

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In response to the findings, Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the Ksa Board, underscored the regulator’s commitment to operator accountability. He remarked, “We have a permitted gambling market based on the idea that anyone who wants to gamble can do so safely. That is why operators have a duty of care to their players and must respond adequately to excessive play. Large losses are an important signal of this. We have intensified our supervision of the online duty of care and violations such as we identify here at Betcity will be tackled hard, because we really do not want to see operators fail as regards their duty of care, especially for vulnerable young players.”