Dutch Gambling Authority issues €1m penalty against gambling operator

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued a penalty against the operator of betonline dot ag, a website owned by Blue High House SA. In an official statement on its website, the gambling regulator has found betonline dot ag guilty of providing unregulated games of chance to local players.

Dutch regulator hits gambling operator with €1m penalty

Under Dutch law, and the Remote Gambling Law, companies that do not have a permit to operate online casinos are deemed illegal in the country and subject to enforcement action – including fines. The €1,125,000 issued by the KSA reflects that.

According to the regulator, players from the Netherlands were able to access and participate in games offered at betonline dot ag. The regulator argued that during its investigation, it deemed the operator and website’s transgressions to far exceed the basic fine of €600,000 merited in such cases, ordering a higher amount to be paid.

Although betonline is said to have complied, according to the KSA, and has stopped allowing Dutch players in, the regulator said that it would continue to closely monitor the website and operator to ensure that it is compliant and not breaking the law. The KSA insisted that there were no measures to restrict Dutch players from playing prior to its intervention.

Chairman of the Board Michel Groothuizen said that most "illegal gambling providers" did not consider player safety at all and were generally negligent of risky gaming behavior. In a translated statement posted by Groothuizen on KSA’s website, the Chairman added:

"For example, players can create an account on this website without having to verify their age, which means that minors can also play. We also saw things like autoplay and turboplay, which can encourage excessive gaming, and there were no gaming limits. The KSA takes tough action against these types of illegal websites."

Detailing investigation and a methodical approach

The investigation targeting the operator and website took place between December 2021 and June 2023, although the website and operator were again looked into in August 2023. According to the regulator, in September 2023, the KSA issued a cease-and-desist order to the operator, but that failed to elicit a response.

The regulator set a date for the operator to respond by February 2024, but did not receive an answer, the KSA said in its official press release and detailing of the case.

This new enforcement action comes amid calls for toughening the measures against unregulated providers of gambling products in the country and major changes in the advertising law.

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