The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ Gaming Authority, has imposed a substantial seven-figure fine on Blue High House for providing gambling services without a license. This action underscores the Dutch regulator’s commitment to shielding the local market from the influence of offshore gaming operators.
According to the KSA’s official announcement, Blue High House offered online games of chance without a permit from the regulator, violating Dutch gambling laws. The operator had previously been penalized for similar infractions, the authority noted.
The KSA highlighted that Blue High House’s website, betonline.ag, allowed Dutch players to participate in online games of chance without implementing any measures to restrict local access.
Typically, the fine for offering unlicensed gambling to Dutch customers is EUR 600,000 ($624,827). However, due to additional violations discovered during the investigation, such as features that encourage excessive gambling, the KSA decided to impose a heftier fine of EUR 1,125,000 ($1,171,551).
The KSA announced that betonline.ag is no longer providing services to Dutch customers. However, the regulator will continue to monitor Blue High House to ensure it does not re-enter the market through other channels. Should that happen, the KSA warned it would not hesitate to impose further sanctions.
Michael Groothuizen, the KSA’s board chairman, emphasized the Netherlands’ dedication to maintaining a legal market where players can gamble safely and with minimal risk. He pointed out that illegal gambling websites are particularly dangerous as they lack the safeguards expected of licensed operators and do not prioritize safer gambling practices. Furthermore, offshore operators often neglect age verification systems, allowing minors to gamble.
Commenting on betonline.ag’s offerings, Groothuizen noted: “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.”
In related news, the Netherlands is considering expanding restrictions on gambling advertising to mitigate gambling-related harm. Local lawmakers have proposed banning gambling ads and the use of credit cards for gambling.
