The Netherlands has announced a series of moves designed to limit the influence of the illegal gambling market, going after operators and marketing agencies that may have assisted unlicensed operators in promoting their products.
Dutch regulator intensifies crackdown on illegal gambling
Notably, the Dutch Gaming Authority has moved against the owners of CasinoScout.nl, a website that used to promote legal gambling until it was acquired by new parties in early 2025, when the watchdog alleges it switched to illegal gambling promotions.
The owners, SBM Holding Group, Sun Block Media Labs 2.0 Ltd., and JEF Holdings Ltd. have been warned against continuing with illegal gambling promotional efforts in the Netherlands.
The regulator has said that it will now apply a €75,000 weekly penalty up to a maximum amount of €225,000 to all parties. Initially, the regulator contacted the owners, issuing a brief blocking order against CasinoScout.nl specifically. The website was brought back online, but after another offense was registered, it was taken off permanently.
The KSA’s investigation has indicated that the three entities in question have continued to target the Dutch gambling market, and hence the new enforcement action.
In related news, the regulator has also announced that it will be taking a firmer stance on companies that promote illegal gambling, and especially those that help promote gambling for players who are currently enrolled with Cruks, the national self-exclusion registry.
Parties targeting Cruks-registered players are the regulator’s next target
"This time, not only the media outlets that publish the articles will be contacted, but an investigation will also be launched into the marketing agencies that offer the articles to various media outlets for a fee," a translated statement on the regulator’s website reads. Matej Novota, Casino Guru's Head of Casino Research, said:
"I'm pleased to see that the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) is taking meaningful action to protect vulnerable players from the harms of unlicensed and illegal gambling. By enforcing strong financial penalties and holding not only operators but also affiliates accountable, the KSA is sending a clear message that ignoring regulations, especially mechanisms like Cruks, won’t be tolerated. While some bad actors may continue to operate in the shadows, others might think twice and reconsider their actions in light of the increased scrutiny."
The watchdog said that it has continued to encounter ads for illegal gambling and specificallynon-Crucks-related gambling in online news articles. These violations will now be monitored more closely as the regulator seeks to address these issues.
Lastly, the KSA reprimanded two licensed operators, ZEBetting and Becta, for allowing parlay betting on tennis games. The operators allowed bettors to bet on whether a set will be a winner or a loser, which is prohibited under current regulations.
