KSA Penalizes ComeOn’s Parent Company for Lapses in Player Protection

Introduction to the Fine

The Netherlands’ Gambling Authority, known as Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has imposed a penalty on an operator for failing to adequately protect its players from gambling-related harm.

Excessive Gambling Among Young Adults Allowed by Operator

The KSA revealed that Tulipa Ent Limited, the parent company behind the well-known ComeOn brand, violated Dutch gambling regulations. The breach was linked to their insufficient measures to safeguard players from gambling excessively, resulting in a financial fine.

An investigation focused on 10 player accounts, all belonging to young adults — a group considered vulnerable under Dutch gambling laws. These accounts amassed significant losses between December 2023 and September 2024. While exact amounts were not disclosed, the losses were described as reaching thousands of euros within a short period.

Despite clear warning signs of potential gambling problems, Tulipa Ent Limited failed to detect these issues promptly or set deposit limits that could have curbed the losses, allowing the affected players to gamble unchecked.

Emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility

Because of these shortcomings, the KSA imposed a fine of 750,000 euros (approximately $874,300) on Tulipa. The authority stressed that earlier detection and intervention were crucial responsibilities that were not met.

Michel Groothuizen, chair of the KSA board, highlighted that the enforcement of social responsibility and duty-of-care requirements across gambling operators varies greatly, often falling short of expectations.

“We have conducted further investigations with various providers, which have led to the issuance of multiple fines related to duty of care. On such vital matters, providers must not compromise, especially when vulnerable groups like young adults are involved.”

Michel Groothuizen, Chair, KSA

KSA’s Commitment to Protecting Vulnerable Gamblers

This penalty reflects KSA’s firm dedication to safeguarding the local gambling market and ensuring that licensed operators comply with established rules.

Recently, the authority also fined other operators such as LeoVegas and BetCity for failing to uphold their duty of care. LeoVegas was penalized with approximately $590,000, and BetCity faced a fine exceeding $3 million for not adequately protecting younger players.