The Kansspelautoriteit (the Netherlands’ Gaming Authority/KSA) has slammed Blue High House with a huge seven-figure fine over the provision of gambling without a license. The Dutch regulator reiterated its commitment to protecting the local market from the influence of offshore gaming operators.
Additional Violations Led to a Higher Fine
According to the KSA’s official announcement, Blue High House offered online games of chances without having a permit issued by the regulator, thus violating the Dutch gambling rules. The operator has also previously been given a penalty for similar violations, the authority added.
The KSA emphasized that Blue High House’s online gaming website, betonline.ag, allowed Dutch players to participate in online games of chances. To make matters worse, the site had no measures whatsoever to keep local players out, the regulator understood.
The usual fine for offering unlicensed gambling to Dutch customers is EUR 600,000 ($624,827). However, since the KSA’s investigation uncovered additional violations, such as features that encourage excessive gambling, the regulator opted to impose a fine of EUR 1,125,000 ($1,171,551) instead.
The KSA Continues to Strike Down Offshore Websites
The KSA added that Blue High House’s betonline.ag website is now no longer offering its services to Dutch customers. However, the KSA will continue to monitor the provider, making sure that it doesn’t return to the Netherlands via other channels.
The KSA warned that, if that happens, it will not hesitate to follow up with extra sanctions.
Michael Groothuizen, the Kansspelautoriteit’s board chairman, commented on the matter, highlighting that the Netherlands is firmly committed to operating a legal market where players can gamble safely and with minimal risks.
He pointed out that illegal gambling websites are extra dangerous because they lack the usual safeguards expected by licensed operators and do not take safer gambling as seriously. Additionally, offshore operators do not take players’ age into account and oftentimes lack an age verification system, thus allowing minors to play.
Speaking about betonline’s offerings, Groothuizen noted: “We also saw things like autoplay and turboplay, which can encourage excessive gaming, and there were no gaming limits. The Ksa takes tough action against these types of illegal websites.”
In other news, the Netherlands is currently considering expanding the restrictions on gambling advertising amid increasing fears of gambling harm. As a result, local lawmakers proposed a ban on ads and gambling with credit cards.
