Netherlands KSA Reduces Fine on GoldWin Limited for WestCasino

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) recalculated the penalty imposed on GoldWin Limited for offering games of chance through westcasino.com without a license. The initial fine of €6.8 million in 2023 was reduced to €3.04 million after applying a new calculation method.

Case Background and Ruling

On October 10, 2023, the Kansspelautoriteit board issued an administrative penalty decision and published it. GoldWin Limited filed an objection in November 2023, which was reviewed during a hearing in March 2024.

During the review it was established that:

• The company had indeed offered online gambling via westcasino.com.
• GoldWin did not operate other websites and was not part of a corporate group.
• The IP address used by the regulator for testing was located in the Netherlands between January 2022 and January 2023.

Calculation Method

In February 2025, the KSA introduced a new methodology for estimating the GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) of unlicensed operators. It is based on Google search volume and the formula:

494 × (search volume)^0.83

This model is applied to estimate potential GGR. According to the recalculation, the results were:

The maximum fine is set at 10% of global GGR. Therefore, the sanction was reduced from €6.8 million to €3.038 million.

KSA Board’s Position

The regulator’s board concluded that:

• The fine must remain proportionate to the company’s financial gain.
• The reduction was justified under the new calculation, but lowering it below €3 million would not reflect the seriousness of the violation.
• GoldWin’s objections regarding the publication of the decision were rejected.