KSA has hit LeoVegas with €500,000 fine, company appeals

• The Dutch gambling regulator has fined LeoVegas €500,000
• The regulator cited failures of the company's duty of care
• LeoVegas is appealing the fine and has disagreed with the company

The Netherlands Gambling Authority, or KSA, as the regulator is known for its Dutch acronym, has taken action against the prominent gaming and betting brand in LeoVegas, arguing in a public press release that the operator has breached its duty of care obligations.

LeoVegas targeted by Dutch gambling regulator

Based on the KSA’s investigation, which examined a period between October 2023 and May 2024, the company breached several mandates tied to the country’s responsible gambling and consumer protection practices, resulting in an enforcement action costing the company €500,000.

LeoVegas has disagreed with the fine and has submitted an appeal, a standard practice for operators.

The regulator outlined the specific issues that it has encounteredwith the operator, including, according to the KSA, a lack of response by the brand when a customer deposited and subsequently lost tens of thousands of euros over a short period.

The KSA argued that LeoVegas’ internal mechanisms at the time were not sufficient to address and detect players experiencing gambling-related harm. The operator is specifically alleged not to have intervened in cases where players showed excessive signs of gambling or used unengaging safeguards, such as pop-up windows that were easy to dismiss.

LeoVegas appeals the decision, as it disagrees with the regulator

Commenting on the latest enforcement action, KSA Chairman of the Board Michael Groothuizen had this to say in a translated statement:

"The duty of care is an essential component of the broader spectrum of player protection. Providers must respond appropriately to excessive gambling. Significant losses in a short period of time are a key indicator of this. We have intensified our oversight of this duty of care and are taking a firm stance against gambling providers, as such a crucial element cannot be neglected."

LeoVegas emphasized that it took its responsible gambling and duty of care obligations very seriously and that the company has continuously developed and enhanced its processes and internal safeguards.

In October, the KSA issued a fine against BetCity over similar breaches, setting the amount payable by the operator at €2.5m.

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