KSA reprimands operator 711 for requiring wagers before withdrawals in the Netherlands
Regulator says payout delays for AML checks must be temporary; 711 has changed its procedures.
Key Takeaways
- The Kansspelautoriteit reprimanded 711 on 20 October 2026 for requiring wagers before withdrawals.
- The KSA said payout delays for AML investigations must be temporary and payments cannot be suspended permanently.
- 711 amended its procedures to refund deposited funds to the original payment method if a customer declines to gamble them.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has reprimanded the operator 711 after finding the company required some customers to wager deposited funds before they could withdraw them, the regulator said on 20 October 2026. The KSA said that practice breaches the requirement that player funds be paid out immediately except in tightly defined bonus or investigation circumstances. 711 told the regulator the rule formed part of its anti-money laundering procedures; after KSA intervention the operator amended its process to allow refunds to the original payment method for customers who do not wish to gamble the funds.
What the KSA found
The KSA received a report that 711 applied wagering requirements to customers using payment methods other than a regular bank account. The regulator reminded firms that a wagering condition is permitted only when linked to a bonus and then only under strict conditions. Outside of those circumstances, gambling companies must pay out player balances as quickly as possible.
The regulator stated it considers the practice to be “highly undesirable.”
Anti‑money laundering checks and payout delays
The KSA acknowledged that payouts may be delayed while a money‑laundering investigation is under way, but it emphasised that any such delay "must be of the shortest possible duration and the payment may not be suspended permanently." The regulator added:
"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," the KSA said.
The regulator clarified that while firms can hold a payout briefly to carry out AML checks, they cannot require a customer to wager deposited funds at least once before releasing them.
Operator response and remedial steps
711 told the KSA that the wagering requirement formed part of its anti‑money laundering measures. Following immediate discussions with the regulator, 711 changed its procedures to prevent recurrence. The operator now allows customers who do not wish to wager the deposited amount to receive a refund to their original payment method.
The KSA reminded the sector that it informed gambling companies in 2024 about obligations and exceptions regarding the immediate payout of player funds and said this type of breach should no longer occur.
Wider regulatory context
This reprimand adds to recent enforcement actions in the Netherlands and follows other licensing or AML concerns raised publicly by the KSA. Readers can consult the regulator’s guidance and sector rulings under /regulation for details on payout obligations and permissible exceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the KSA reprimand 711?
The KSA reprimanded 711 because the operator required some customers to wager deposited funds before they could withdraw them, a practice the regulator described as "highly undesirable" and generally prohibited unless tied to a bonus under strict conditions.
Can operators delay withdrawals for anti‑money laundering checks?
Operators can delay a payout to conduct an anti‑money laundering investigation but only for the shortest possible duration, and the payment may not be suspended permanently, the KSA said on 20 October 2026.
What changes did 711 make after the KSA intervention?
After discussions with the KSA, 711 updated its procedures so that customers who do not wish to wager deposited funds can have the balance refunded to their original payment method.
Tags
About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
More from Eleanor Whitfield
