The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) is imposing a penalty payment order on Techno Offshore Limited and Novatech Solutions N.V. for illegal gambling.

They offer illegal gambling to Dutch players via the websites simplecasino.com, nolimitbet.com, qbet.com and 55bet.com. With a penalty payment order, the Ksa demands that the illegal providers immediately stop their offer and keep it stopped. If the providers do not comply, a penalty payment of €280,000 per week will be imposed, up to a maximum of €840,000.

Providers without a Ksa license must do everything they can to ensure that Dutch players cannot go to them. This was not the case for both parties that are now being imposed with the penalty payment order.

During an initial investigation into Techno Offshore, in which inspectors were able to create an account on behalf of the Ksa, play was possible immediately.

During a follow-up investigation, all email addresses and account names that could be traced back to the Ksa were blocked, but other names and email addresses from the Netherlands were not. The Ksa takes this very seriously, because providers clearly show that they want to circumvent enforcement by the Ksa.

Inspectors from the Ksa could also go to qbet.com, one of the websites of Novatech, for illegal gambling. During a re-inspection, this website appeared to be blocked for Dutch players. Inspectors were then able to go to 55bet.com, a website of the same provider.

Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the board of the Ksa: ‘Illegal providers operate in a sophisticated manner. We see providers without a Ksa license who really do their best to keep Dutch players out, but also a lot of parties who don’t seem to care. For example, we see that an offer is often stopped after inspection by the 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 rule. With a penalty payment order, we will put a stop to the offer as soon as possible, but we can still impose a hefty fine for the same violation.’

Offering online gambling to players in the Netherlands is only permitted with a permit from the Ksa. Strict rules and regulations apply to this, which are aimed at ensuring a safe, legal offer, in which players are assured of a fair game and are protected against gambling addiction. This is not the case with illegal providers.