KSA reprimands 711 over withdrawal wagering requirement

The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has reprimanded operator 711 for making some customers gamble their deposited funds before allowing a withdrawal, according to a KSA notice. The KSA said wagering requirements of this kind are permitted only in connection with an offered bonus, and even then under strict conditions. In all other cases, the regulator said, gambling companies must pay out as quickly as possible.

The KSA received a report that 711 imposed such conditions on customers who paid in through channels other than a standard bank account. 711 said the procedure formed part of its measures to prevent money laundering. The KSA acknowledged that payouts may be delayed in the context of a money laundering investigation, but said any delay must be of the shortest possible duration and that payment may not be suspended permanently. The regulator added that a gambling company may not require deposited money to be wagered at least once.

The KSA described the practice as "highly undesirable" and opened talks with 711 straight away. After those talks, 711 adopted steps to stop the issue from happening again and confirmed that customers unwilling to bet the sum could get it back via the payment method they originally used. The regulator also noted that it had told operators back in 2024 what duties and exemptions apply to paying out player funds without delay, adding that breaches of this kind ought to be a thing of the past.

The KSA said: "When someone wishes to withdraw their deposited money, that balance must be refunded immediately. Gambling companies may not impose structural conditions that prevent such immediate payout."