The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has imposed substantial financial penalties on two offshore operators for offering unlicensed online gambling services to players in the Netherlands, one of the regulator’s most notable enforcement actions since the country introduced a regulated online market.
Novatech received a penalty of €24,846,000 ($28,790,600), the largest fine ever issued by the KSA to an illegal operator, while Fortaprime SRL was fined €1,795,000 ($2,079,977). According to the regulator, both companies continued to allow access to their platforms for Dutch players despite having previously received warnings and cease-and-desist orders.
The investigation found that the companies enabled users located in the Netherlands to register accounts, deposit funds, and participate in online gambling activities through several websites.
Platforms connected to Fortaprime included amonbet101.com, supraplay.com, amonbet.com, bilucky.com, gxspins.com, kaasino.com, hiddenjack.com, and luckymax7.com. In the case of Novatech, the regulator identified illegal gambling activity on Qbet.com and 55Bet.com.
KSA inspectors carried out tests on the platforms by creating accounts and participating in gambling as Dutch players. During these checks, investigators reported that access to the platforms was not restricted, allowing them to freely open accounts, deposit funds, and play games. The regulator said there were no effective technical measures to block users from the Netherlands.
Additional violations were also identified during the investigation. The platforms lacked a visible age verification system, and users were able to deposit funds using cryptocurrencies and other anonymous payment methods. The regulator said these payment options could facilitate money laundering and make it more difficult to track financial transactions.
The KSA said the scale of the fines was determined using several criteria under Dutch law. In cases where standard penalty levels are considered too low relative to the profits generated, fines can be calculated based on the estimated turnover linked to the unlawful activity.
KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen said: “We determine the amount of the fine based on the (estimated) turnover that the illegal provider has achieved from players from the Netherlands.
“In doing so, we are limited by the law that says the fine may be a maximum of 10% of global turnover. Novatech earned hundreds of millions from its illegal offer, and did so mainly from Dutch players. A fine of €24 million ($27.81 million) sounds impressive, but without the maximum of 10%, the fine would have come to more than €100 million ($115.8 million); an amount that would be better suited to this violation.”
The investigation also found that illegal gambling services linked to Fortaprime were promoted by Dutch social media influencers. Advertising unlicensed gambling services through influencers is prohibited under Dutch law. The regulator said individuals involved in promoting such platforms could also face financial penalties or sanctions.
The Netherlands introduced its current online gambling regulatory framework in 2021 under the KOA Act, which legalized and regulated online gambling in the country. Since then, the KSA has increased enforcement measures aimed at preventing unlicensed operators from targeting Dutch players.
The regulator works with payment providers, hosting companies, banks, and technology firms to identify and disrupt the infrastructure used by illegal gambling operators. Authorities have said stronger enforcement is intended to protect consumers and support licensed operators within the regulated market.
The penalties against Novatech and Fortaprime come amid broader regulatory challenges for the Dutch gambling sector. The KSA has indicated that the year ahead will involve heightened enforcement as it addresses declining channelization rates, lower industry turnover linked to tax increases, and a series of proposed reforms to the online gambling framework.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/11/118012-dutch-regulator-imposes-record-fines-on-two-offshore-gambling-operators
