Dutch regulator fines Techno Offshore $1.4 million for illegal online gambling operations

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a €1.2 million ($1.4 million) fine on British Virgin Islands-based Techno Offshore for illegally offering online gambling services to Dutch consumers.

The fine follows an investigation into the operator’s Nolimitbet and Simplecasino platforms, which the KSA found were still accessible to users in the Netherlands despite previous enforcement warnings. According to the regulator, Techno Offshore lacks a valid license to operate in the Dutch market, rendering its services unlawful.

“Offering online gambling without a license for the Dutch market remains prohibited,” the KSA said in an official statement.

The regulator outlined several compliance failures, including the absence of age verification mechanisms, lack of enforced playing limits, and the use of cryptocurrency for customer deposits. The websites also offered autoplay and turboplay features, which the KSA said could encourage excessive gambling behavior.

The investigation revealed that Dutch IP addresses were not blocked, and users were able to select the Netherlands as their country of residence during registration. The site would automatically fill the Dutch country code (+31) in the phone number field, further facilitating access for Netherlands-based players.

Techno Offshore holds a license from the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission in Canada’s Quebec province but is not authorized to operate in the Netherlands.

KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen, who assumed the role in mid-2024, reiterated the need for tighter enforcement powers and legal reforms to combat illegal gambling.

“Licensed providers in the Netherlands must comply with all kinds of rules to protect players from gambling addiction,” Groothuizen said. “We will take stern action against these types of [operators] because they attract players to illegal websites. And consumers have insufficient levels of protection [on these sites].”

He added that unlawful operators often neglect key safeguards. “Examples include not using age verification, enabling payments with crypto, or failing to enforce gaming limits," the KSA chairman pointed out.

Groothuizen has previously advocated for reforms to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), aimed at strengthening consumer protection and limiting black market gambling. One issue he has advocated for is the granting of more powers to the KSA, allowing it to block access to illegal gambling websites.