The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) imposed a record fine of nearly 25 million euros on Novatech for illegally operating through unlicensed websites such as Qbet.com and 55Bet.com, and actively targeting Dutch customers. The regulator found that the operator severely lacked geoblocking and age verification measures, and even accepted cryptocurrencies and anonymous payment methods, raising significant anti-money laundering concerns. In plain terms, the fine was severe, but the regulator still thinks it was not severe enough.
Record-breaking fine: Could exceed 100 million without a cap
KSA pointed out that Novatech allowed Dutch users to register, deposit, and gamble without implementing sufficient geoblocking and age verification, and also accepted cryptocurrencies and anonymous payments, exacerbating the risk of money laundering. According to Dutch law, the fine is capped at 10% of the operator's global turnover, which limited the amount of this penalty. The KSA chairman expressed regret, stating that without this cap, the fine could have exceeded 100 million euros, which would be more commensurate with the crime. Additionally, Fortaprime was also fined approximately 1.8 million euros for offering unlicensed gambling brands to Dutch players.
Regulatory background: Continuous tightening after the Dutch market opened
The Netherlands introduced a regulated online gambling market in 2021, aiming to bring gambling activities into a supervised environment to enhance player safety. Since then, the government has implemented several strict measures, such as tightening advertising restrictions and mandatory deposit limits. Over the past year, the market has seen two increases in gambling tax rates. Recently, industry bodies have written to the government calling for a review of the tax system, stating that it severely affects revenue and taxes, with players turning to the black market. This heavy penalty on Novatech is the latest in a series of enforcement actions by KSA, with market operator Polymarket also being fined up to 840,000 euros last month for operating without a license in the Netherlands. Want to keep up with the latest European gambling regulatory updates? PASA's official website continues to track.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders" gambling news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
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