Dutch regulator fines Techno Offshore €1.2m over illicit gambling sites
The KSA said the operator was offering gambling to Dutch players without a licence.
The Netherlands.- The Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a €1.2m fine against Techno Offshore, which it accuses of offering illicit gambling in the Netherlands. The regulator said that the operator’s sites Nolimitbet.com and Simplecasino.com had no measures in place to prevent access by Dutch players.
The KSA also found that Techno Offshore had no age verification measures in place and also offered features such as autoplay, which is prohibited in slot games in the Netherlands. An investigation by KSA in April last year found that Techno Offshore was based in the British Virgin Islands and had a licence from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Simplecasino.com was found to be offering both online casino and sports betting in the Netherlands without a licence. The KSA found that customers were able to register as Dutch nationals despite the site being unapproved. Further checks in June 2024 confirmed that both Nolimitbet.com and Simplecasino.com continued to operate without a licence and took no action to block Dutch players.
In July, the regulator issued a penalty payment order instructing Techno Offshore to cease Dutch operations or face weekly fines. In November, the regulator outlined a base fine of €280,000, which could rise to a maximum of €840,000. By January, it had finalised a report justifying penalties against Techno Offshore. The operator was given an opportunity to respond but failed to do so.
The KSA said that to determine the penalty amount, it took into account aggravating factors, such as the types of games offered and the use of banned autoplay features. This led to an additional €600,000 penalty, bringing the total fine to €1.2m.
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen said: “Licensed providers in the Netherlands must comply with numerous rules to safeguard players against gambling addiction,” Groothuizen said. “Illegal operators often disregard these precautions, such as verifying age, restricting risky gambling, and avoiding payments via cryptocurrency or unlimited play options.”
Earlier this week, the KSA issued a warning against the operator of the Circus Gran Casino chain of gaming arcades for violating the Netherlands’ ban on the use of role models in marketing. It noted that Hotel Gaming Services had used featured athletes from a Limburg ice hockey team in an advert for its arcade in Maastricht.
The offending ad showed players in team uniforms playing on a gaming machine at the arcade. The message congratulated the team for its victory in a tournament.
