The Dutch gambling regulatory authority KSA (Kansspelautoriteit) recently issued a hefty fine of 4.2 million euros (approximately 4.9 million US dollars) to Starscream company for operating three online gambling platforms, including Rantcasino, without a license and openly targeting Dutch players. Relevant cross-border gambling compliance guidelines can be referenced on the PASA official website.
Illegal Operations Details: Fully Targeting Dutch Players
Starscream's platforms Rantcasino.com, Allstarzcasino.com, and Sugarcasino.com all focus on online slot machines and have not taken any effective measures to block Dutch players.
The platforms not only failed to intercept Dutch IP addresses but also allowed players to register accounts using Dutch local contact methods, supported Dutch-specific payment methods like iDEAL, and even listed the Netherlands as an optional country on the registration page, automatically filling in the Dutch area code +31. Moreover, Rantcasino's online customer service even provides Dutch language support, fully catering to the needs of Dutch users, completely ignoring local regulatory requirements.
Multiple Violations: Player Protection Is Virtually Nonexistent
Beyond illegal operations, the platforms also engage in several severe infringements of player rights, which particularly dissatisfy the regulatory authorities:
No visible age verification mechanism, theoretically allowing minors to gamble freely;
Illegally offering an autoplay feature, which has already been explicitly banned in the Netherlands;
Charging "inactivity fees" to players who have not been active for a long time, setting unreasonable withdrawal rules that require additional betting for withdrawals, and limiting withdrawal amounts. KSA clearly states that these actions completely contravene Dutch gambling policies and offer no protection to player rights, being extremely severe in nature.
Ignoring Regulatory Warnings: Defiant Misconduct Leads to Severe Penalties
This is not the first time Starscream has received a warning. In April 2025, KSA explicitly demanded that it stop its illegal operations in the Netherlands, or else face a maximum fine of 840,000 euros. However, Starscream neither responded nor rectified its actions, continuing to defy the law.
The fine of 4.2 million euros is equivalent to 6% of the company's estimated illegal operating turnover in the Netherlands (estimated turnover of 7.05 million euros). KSA had previously collected a prepayment of 840,000 euros, and the remaining fines will be further pursued. KSA Chairman Michel Groezen emphasizes that even though collecting fines from companies outside the EU poses challenges, illegal gambling will not be tolerated.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
