A recent survey targeting unlicensed online gambling platforms in the Netherlands has revealed that some operators share players' personal data with third-party websites, raising concerns about privacy and compliance.
The study, conducted by the compliance consulting firm "Responsibility Alliance Quality Mark" (KVA, under XY Legal Solutions), investigated six gambling sites that operate without official Dutch authorization. These sites typically attract users through illegal affiliate promotions or organic search keywords such as "no Cruks verification casinos," with Cruks being the Dutch self-exclusion registry.
After registering accounts on these platforms, KVA found that players could place bets without identity verification. More concerning, the privacy policies of all investigated sites allowed the transfer of user personal data to third-party companies outside the EU.
The report highlights that "widespread and unrestricted data sharing with business partners" is one of the most common risks associated with unlicensed operators. Additionally, some sites have "one-sided and unreasonable" terms, such as the ability to close accounts or withhold funds without cause.
The analysis involved sites including Booms Bet, Tomb Riches, and Vegas Hero.
KVA had previously noted that since the implementation of deposit limits in the licensed Dutch gambling market in October last year (a net deposit ceiling of 700 euros per month for regular players, and 300 euros for those under 25), traffic to unlicensed sites has been on the rise.
Currently, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) is urging the government to grant greater enforcement powers to combat unlicensed operations. The agency also warned that recent increases in gambling taxes have led to unintended consequences such as a decline in tax revenue. A new round of gambling reforms is currently stalled due to domestic political turmoil and early elections.
