The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) has imposed a €4,228,000 fine on Starscream Limited for illegally offering online gambling to Dutch consumers through the websites Rant Casino, AllStarz Casino, and Sugar Casino. The operator had previously been penalized for similar violations.
According to the Ksa, investigators were able to create accounts, deposit funds, and participate in gambling activities on the sites without any technical restrictions preventing access from the Netherlands. Starscream, based in Saint Lucia, does not hold a Dutch gambling license, making its offerings unlawful under the country’s regulated market framework.
Regulator Cites Player Protection Failures
The Ksa emphasized that illegal operators bypass the strict consumer‑protection standards required of licensed providers. On Starscream’s platforms, players could gamble without visible age verification and were offered autoplay functionality—an automated feature linked to increased addiction risks.
The regulator noted that the Netherlands’ licensing system is designed to safeguard players through mandatory responsible‑gaming controls, transparency requirements, and oversight mechanisms that illegal operators routinely ignore.
Ksa Expands Enforcement Through Partnerships
The authority reiterated that its enforcement strategy extends beyond issuing administrative fines. The Ksa works closely with payment processors, hosting companies, banks, and major technology firms to disrupt illegal gambling operations and limit their ability to reach Dutch consumers.
Michel Groothuizen, chair of the Ksa board, said the regulator will continue to use every tool available to combat unlicensed operators.
“The Netherlands Gambling Authority has a wide range of tools at its disposal to tackle illegal providers. Imposing administrative fines is one of them. Although collecting such fines presents challenges, particularly for parties outside the EU, with these fines we continue to send the message that we are taking a tough stance against illegal offerings in the Netherlands.”
