Dutch gambling regulator slaps record €24.8 million fine on illegal online casinos
The Dutch regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, issued record fines totaling over €26.6 million to two operators for offering illegal online gambling services.Summary
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), has imposed record fines on two companies offering illegal online gambling to Dutch players. Novatech, operating Qbet.com and 55Bet.com, received a €24.846 million fine, while Fortaprime SRL, operating multiple sites, was fined €1.795 million. Both companies had previously been ordered to cease illegal operations but continued to allow Dutch players to create accounts, deposit funds, and place bets without implementing preventative measures. The Ksa highlighted the lack of age verification and the acceptance of cryptocurrencies as aggravating factors, raising concerns about money laundering. Ksa chairman Michel Groothuizen noted that Novatech earned hundreds of millions from illegal offerings, and the fine would have been much higher—over €100 million—if not for a 10% revenue cap imposed by Dutch law. The Ksa continues to work with various entities to block illegal gambling sites and is also addressing the use of Dutch influencers to promote these sites.
(Source：Nl Times)