TLDR
- The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) fined Novatech €24,846,000 and Fortaprime SRL €1,795,000 for running unlicensed gambling sites targeting Dutch players
- Both operators failed to block Dutch traffic, ignored age verification rules, and allowed crypto payments
- Dutch law caps fines at 10% of global turnover, limiting what regulators could actually charge
- KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said the fine should have exceeded €100 million without the legal cap
- The KSA is now targeting payment providers, web hosts, and social media influencers who promoted these illegal sites
The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has handed out its largest fines ever against two unlicensed gambling operators. Novatech, which ran Qbet.com and 55Bet.com, was fined €24,846,000. Fortaprime SRL, which operated amonbet.com and supraplay.com, received a €1,795,000 penalty.
Both companies targeted Dutch consumers without holding a local license. The KSA had penalized both operators before, but illegal activity continued.
KSA investigators were able to create accounts, deposit money, and play games on all the flagged sites. Neither company had basic technical blocks in place to stop Dutch users from accessing their platforms.
Investigators found multiple violations across both operators. There was no visible age verification. Customers were allowed to pay using cryptocurrency, which regulators said enables money laundering.
Licensed operators are required to spend heavily on anti-money laundering systems. The KSA said unlicensed platforms skip these costs entirely, giving them an unfair advantage over legal businesses.
Fine Caps Limit Regulatory Power
Fines were calculated based on estimated company turnover. But Dutch law limits penalties to 10% of global turnover, which the KSA said restricted what it could actually impose.
KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said Novatech earned hundreds of millions from Dutch players. Without the legal cap, the fine could have been over €100 million.
Groothuizen publicly stated that the current cap is not strong enough to deter large international operators. He called for lawmakers to review the fine limits.
The KSA said the record fines still send a clear message, but acknowledged that the law needs updating to match the scale of illegal profits being made.
KSA Targets Influencers and Payment Networks
The KSA is expanding how it enforces the rules. It is now working with payment providers, web hosting companies, banks, and tech firms to cut off support for illegal platforms.
Fortaprime used Dutch social media influencers to advertise its sites. The KSA said it will take action against those influencers directly.
Regulators said social media personalities who promote unlicensed gambling sites will face sanctions. This marks a shift toward holding marketers and affiliates accountable alongside operators.
The KSA said this broader enforcement approach is part of a long-term strategy to shrink the illegal gambling market in the Netherlands.
Groothuizen confirmed the authority will continue pursuing both the operators and those who help them reach Dutch consumers.
