KSA fines LeoVegas €500,000 for responsible gambling breaches

LeoVegas has been hit with a €500,000 ($590,019) financial penalty in the Netherlands after regulators concluded that the company repeatedly failed to step in when users showed clear signs of harmful gambling behavior. The sanction was issued by the Dutch gambling authority after a review of player activity covering several months, from autumn 2023 through spring 2024. During this time, licensed operators were expected to actively detect risky play and apply firm safeguards when warning signs appeared. According to the regulator, LeoVegas did not meet that expectation. Only recently, by the way, we reported that New Zealand’s DIA ordered LeoVegas to stop illegally targeting local users.

Player activity raised alarms, but responses were minimal

Regulators examined a number of player accounts and found consistent weaknesses in how the operator reacted to obvious risk indicators. In some cases, customers were able to deposit exceptionally large sums and suffer rapid losses without timely or effective intervention.

One account reviewed involved a newly registered player who transferred tens of thousands of euros shortly after opening an account and quickly increased bet sizes. Despite the unusual spending pattern, the operator failed to impose meaningful limits or initiate immediate contact. In another case, a customer displaying severe gambling-related harm indicators received only a generic on-screen message, a response the authority described as insufficient given the circumstances.

Enforcement pressure increases across the Dutch market

KSA board chair Michel Groothuizen stated that sudden and significant financial losses are a critical signal requiring decisive action from gambling providers. He stressed that safeguarding players is a core obligation under Dutch law and warned that ignoring this responsibility would lead to serious consequences.

LeoVegas has pushed back against the regulator’s conclusions and confirmed that it is challenging the fine. The company says it takes player safety seriously and remains in regular contact with Dutch authorities, but believes the penalty goes too far.

The operator also noted that its responsible gambling tools have not stood still. Since the period under review, LeoVegas says it has continued to adjust its monitoring processes and tighten the way it intervenes when risky behavior is detected.

With this decision, LeoVegas joins a growing list of licensed gambling companies in the Netherlands that have faced penalties over player protection failures. Recent cases suggest a tougher mood from the regulator, with a clear expectation that operators step in early when problems appear — not after the damage is already done.Only recently, we reported that the Dutch KSA fined Unibet a record €4 million for violating responsible-gaming rules.