Record fine of 1 million for Alimaniere, an exemplary sanction against illegal gambling
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7 Jan 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the Dutch gambling regulator, has fined Alimaniere Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada 1,050,000 euros. The company illegally offered online gambling to Dutch players via its website time2spin.com, in flagrant violation of national legislation. This sanction sends a strong signal to the industry.
According to the Ksa, Alimaniere’s lack of a license and questionable practices put players at risk.
“Legal markets allow players to bet safely. Illegal operators, on the other hand, often ignore measures designed to protect players, particularly against the risks of addiction.”
Michel Groothuizen, President of the Ksa
Deceptive strategies and repeated manoeuvres
Initially, the Ksa had blocked access to time2spin.com via an IP restriction. However, during a subsequent inspection, Alimaniere had already circumvented this sanction by creating a new site: timetospin1.com. Users could connect to it with their pre-existing identifiers, which shows a clear desire to circumvent the rules.
These practices also include questionable measures, such as fees for inactivity and a lack of age verification, even allowing minors to play. As a result, the Ksa considered that the base fine of 600,000 euros was insufficient and increased it to reflect the seriousness of the offences.
New penalty rules: fines of up to €2 million
Since 1 January, the Ksa’s penalty policy has been tightened. Fines can now be up to €2 million or 3% of the gross turnover of the company concerned. These measures aim to strengthen the responsibility of operators while sending a strong signal to offenders.
Michel Groothuizen explained:
“Since the opening of the market in 2021, we have gained the necessary experience to put in place a rigorous fine policy. This approach provides both clarity and an incentive to comply with the rules.”
The new rules cover a wide range of offences, from unauthorised online gaming platforms to illegal slot machines. For companies, this means an increased obligation to comply, with major financial consequences in the event of a violation.
The future of gambling under increased scrutiny
This Alimaniere case illustrates the Ksa’s commitment to protecting consumers while cleaning up the market. With reinforced measures and dissuasive fines, illegal operators will have to choose between compliance and heavy sanctions. As Michel Groothuizen pointed out, the professionalization of the sector is essential to guarantee responsible and safe gambling.
The strict regulations put in place by the Ksa set a new standard. While they impose constraints, they also offer an opportunity: that of participating in a more ethical and reliable market.