BetOnline fined over $1M by Netherlands Gambling Authority

Blue High House S.A., the company that owns BetOnline, is being fined for $1.175 million by the Netherlands Gambling Authority.

After investigating BetOnline's operations, the KSA accused its parent company of allowing players to participate in online gambling without implementing ways through which their access can be prevented, as well as not complying with other local gambling laws. These include not requiring players to get their age verified when creating new accounts, which raises the possibility of exposing minors to gambling. The site also has no limits on play time, which could encourage excessive gambling among players.

This comes after the Netherlands fined Blue High House in 2023, and the company has continued to operate BetOnline in the country since.

Netherlands cracks down on BetOnline casino

As part of a crackdown in the Netherlands on BetOnline, the KSA has now warned Blue High House that it will be fined €43,000 per week, up to a maximum of €129,000 — totaling over $135,000. In response, Blue High House has claimed that it no longer offers BetOnline to Dutch players. The KSA is seemingly skeptical, stating it will continue to monitor the company and prevent it from coming back with alternative platforms.

The Netherlands has been cracking down on sweepstakes casinos in general. This includes requiring stricter deposit limits and placing a ban on advertising lacking appropriate targeting controls for the platforms. One of the most worrisome moves for sweepstakes casinos in the country is a focus on restricting slot machines and an increase in taxes on gross gaming revenue that will be starting in 2025.

The increased taxes caused backlash from the Netherlands Online Gaming Association, who claim that increasing taxes could increase costs to play, potentially leading players to pursue unregulated markets instead. Some companies have already decided to leave the country as tensions rise, including Tombola and LiveScore Bet.

Is online gambling legal in the Netherlands?

Yes, online gambling is legal in the Netherlands. It's regulated under the Remote Gambling Act, which created in 2021. This means sweepstakes casinos must get necessary licenses from the Netherlands Gambling Authority in order to operate in the country.

Gambling servers that are operating without a license will face prosecution and fines. Punishments are also likely to be doled out to providers who do operate under a license, but fail to meet the standards set forth by the country's gambling rules, something BetOnline seems to be finding out the hard way.

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