Ksa takes tough action against Luxurybingods: high penalty
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25 Sep 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The Gaming Authority (Ksa) has imposed a hefty penalty on the owner of the social media account Luxurybingods. The reason? Organizing bingo games without a permit and advertising these illegal bingo games. The Ksa wants to prevent Luxurybingods from continuing to organize games of chance illegally.
No permit and high penalty payments
Luxurybingods, a well-known social media account, organized bingo games without the required permit. The Ksa has now taken measures by imposing a penalty payment order. Luxurybingods must pay €19,000 for every bingo game organized without a permit. With a maximum of €190,000. In addition, a fine of €9,500 applies for every advertisement that is made. With a maximum of €95,000.
In the Netherlands, bingo may only be organised by an association that has existed for at least three years, and that association may not have been established specifically for the purpose of organising games of chance. The prizes of such a bingo may also not exceed €400 each or €1,550 in total. In addition, it is prohibited to advertise these games of chance, a rule that Luxurybingods violated.
Bingo at the Harbor Club in Eindhoven
The problems for Luxurybingods came to light during a bingo event on 27 March this year at the Harbour Club in Eindhoven. Supervisors from the Ksa were present and saw that the bingo was in full swing, without a permit having been applied for. What made the situation even worse was that this bingo was extensively advertised on TikTok. Players paid no less than €65 for a ticket, and the value of the prizes was far above the legally permitted maximum.
The Ksa discovered that the bingo was organised for the benefit of Luxurybingods itself, which is against the rules for small games of chance.
High chance of repetition
The Gaming Authority suspects that there is a high chance that Luxurybingods will continue to organize illegal bingos. In 2022, the organization was already reprimanded for offering illegal online lotteries via the Instagram account Luxurybingods. Similar bingos have also been held at other locations without a permit. By now imposing hefty fines, the Ksa hopes to put an end to these illegal activities.