Two more operators penalised for unlicensed activity in Netherlands
KSA has requested Techno Offshore and Novatech cease activity immediately. Should they fail to comply, KSA will impose weekly penalty payments of €280,000 (£232,732/$296,368), up to a maximum of €840,000.
Techno Offshore blasted for lack of blocking
A KSA statement said Techno Offshore has been running its nolimitbet.com and simplecasino.com websites illegally as Techno Offshore does not hold a local licence, it is in breach of national law in the Netherlands.
During an initial investigation into Techno Offshore in April, the regulator found players could create an account, deposit and gamble on both websites. Content on offer included games of chance, which are not permitted in the country, even through licensed operators.
Following this up with a further test in June, KSA said it was not able to login using existing credentials. However, officers were able to make new accounts and access gambling activities.
“During a follow-up investigation, all email addresses and account names that could be traced back to KSA were blocked,” KSA said. “However, other names and email addresses from the Netherlands were not.
“The KSA takes this very seriously. The provider clearly shows that it wants to circumvent enforcement by the KSA.”
KSA probe uncovers more illegal websites from Novatech
In the case of Novatech, KSA said that findings from a June investigation had similar results.
Officers could access its Qbet.com domain, which is operated by Novatech, and create an account, deposit and gamble. Again, content available to players included illegal games of chance.
Upon revisiting the site in September, KSA said that Qbet.com had ceased operations in the country. However, it discovered Novatech was running several other websites in its place, including 55bet.com
Like with Qbet.com, officers could access the site, create accounts and gamble, including online games of chance. Both incidents were deemed breaches of Dutch law.
Both operators must now cease activities in the Netherlands or face the weekly penalty from KSA.
KSA chief pledges “tough action” against unlicensed operators
Commenting on both cases, KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said the regulator is committed to clamping down on illegal activities in the Netherlands.
“Illegal providers operate in a sophisticated manner,” Groothuizen said. “We see providers without a KSA licence who really do their best to keep Dutch players out, but also many parties who don; seem to care.
“For example, we see that an offer is often stopped after inspection by KSA but is continued just as vigorously on another website of the same provider. We therefore take tough action against these types of parties that deliberately violate the rules.
“With a penalty payment order we will put a stop to the offering as soon as possible, but we can still impose a hefty fine for the same violation.”
The two cases are the latest in a series of recent rulings by KSA. Earlier this week, KSA fined Blue High House €1.1 million for continuing to offer online gambling in the Netherlands without the relevant licence.
KSA said Blue High House had breached regulations in the Netherlands by offering games without a local licence. Usually, this type of breach can warrant a basic fine of €600,000 but the nature of the case led to a fine almost double this.
It is the second time this year KSA has imposed a financial penalty on Blue High House. A €129,000 fine issued in June also related to operating without approval from the regulator.