Dutch Gambling Regulator Takes Action Against Illegal Online Casino Promotion
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the regulatory body overseeing gambling in the Netherlands, has recently unleashed a significant crackdown on three entities linked to the promotion of unauthorized online casinos through the website Casinoscout.nl. Each of these companies faces potential penalties amounting to €225,000 (around $262,897).
The implicated parties include SBM Holding Group, Sun Block Media Labs 2.0, and JEF Holdings, all of which are part-owners of the controversial comparison site. Initially, Casinoscout.nl was a platform exclusively endorsing licensed online casinos in the Netherlands. However, since a change in ownership in January 2025, the KSA uncovered that illegal operators were being featured as well.
One of the prominent illegal sites being advertised was Talksaspins.com. The KSA had previously taken action against the entity behind Talksaspins.com, LCS Limited, for operating unlawfully within the Dutch market. Alarmingly, the KSA discovered that the website in question was displaying illegal operators alongside those with legitimate licenses, which could mislead users about which casinos were sanctioned.
Despite being informed of the regulatory violations, none of the three companies responded to the KSA’s warnings that penalties would be enforced unless they halted their promotion of illegitimate sites. Consequentially, the KSA reached out to the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands requesting the deactivation of Casinoscout.nl. While the site was briefly taken offline, the owners attempted to block Dutch visitors via IP restrictions.
Once the site resumed operations, illegal advertisements reemerged, prompting the KSA to impose a permanent shutdown of Casinoscout.nl.
Further investigations revealed additional illicit activities linked to the site. Casinoscout.nl was also found to have direct connections to besteonlinecasinonederland.com, another platform owned by the same trio. Given these continuous violations, the KSA has officially issued penalty payment orders against the three owners. If they persist in promoting illegal content, they will incur fines of €75,000 per week, capping at a total of €225,000.
This action highlights the ongoing efforts by the KSA to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the regulated online gambling market in the Netherlands.