Summary
- The Netherlands has launched a new campaign to eliminate advertising aimed at players registered with Cruks, the self-exclusion registry.
- The country's regulator has imposed a penalty on CasinoScout, alleging its involvement in promoting illegal gambling.
- In another case, ZEBetting and Betcawere received a warning for offering prohibited betting options.
The Netherlands has announced a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of the illegal gambling market, targeting operators and marketing agencies that may have supported unlicensed operators in promoting their services.
Dutch regulator intensifies crackdown on illegal gambling
The Dutch Gaming Authority has taken action against the owners of CasinoScout.nl, a website that initially promoted legal gambling. However, after its acquisition by new parties in early 2025, the watchdog claims it began to promote illegal gambling activities. The owners, SBM Holding Group, Sun Block Media Labs 2.0 Ltd., and JEF Holdings Ltd., have been warned not to continue promoting illegal gambling in the Netherlands. The regulator stated it will impose a weekly penalty of €75,000, up to a total of €225,000, on each involved party. Initially, the authority issued a brief blocking order against CasinoScout.nl. Although the website was later restored, repeated offenses led to its permanent removal. The KSA's investigation revealed that these three entities have continued targeting the Dutch gambling market, prompting further enforcement measures. In related developments, the regulator announced a stricter policy against companies that promote illegal gambling activities, particularly those encouraging gambling among individuals registered with Cruks, the national self-exclusion system.
Parties targeting Cruks-registered players are the regulator’s next target
I am pleased to see that the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) is taking significant steps to protect vulnerable players from the dangers of unlicensed and illegal gambling. By imposing hefty financial penalties and holding not only operators but also affiliates accountable, the KSA is clearly stating that non-compliance with regulations, especially those involving mechanisms like Cruks, will not be tolerated. While some unethical operators may continue to act covertly, the increased scrutiny may prompt others to reconsider their actions. The watchdog reported that it continues to encounter advertisements for illegal gambling, particularly related to non-Cruks gambling, in online news articles. These violations will now be more closely monitored as the regulator intensifies efforts to address these issues. Additionally, the KSA reprimanded two licensed operators, ZEBetting and Becta, for allowing parlay betting on tennis matches. The operators permitted bets on whether a set would be won or lost, which is prohibited by current regulations.
