The Netherlands Gambling Authority, or Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has taken decisive action against three companies. These companies kept promotions of unlicensed gambling platforms on Dutch-facing websites. SBM Holding Group, Sun Block Media Labs 2.0 Ltd, and JEF Holdings Ltd face a penalty order of up to €225,000 ($261,000) if they continue hosting illegal gambling marketing materials.
Mainly, the investigation revolves around Casinoscout.nl. This is an affiliate website that recently only listed legal operators licensed in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, this situation changed in 2025 when new ownership took control of the domain. Shortly after, the website began directing Dutch users to offshore casinos. These casinos lacked the regulatory approval to operate in the Netherlands.
Investigators have discovered a page claiming to list the Best Unlicensed Casinos. The website displayed casino logos, marketing slogans, and review scores. It also included direct links encouraging users to sign up, often offering various types of sign-up bonuses. The law strictly forbids using such promotional materials to market unlicensed operators to Dutch citizens.
Some of the promoted sites had already attracted the KSA’s attention before enforcement actions began. The regulator noted that Casinoscout.nl violated Dutch law by promoting these brands. The law prohibits both unlicensed gambling and the advertising of such services. The KSA blocked hundreds of blacklisted domains, displaying its commitment to player safety, in this year alone.
The KSA was concerned that the website did not distinguish between regulated and black market operators. This could potentially mislead visitors into believing that all listed platforms were legal. The authority stated that such uncertainty posed a substantial threat to consumer protection. The KSA was unshakeable that operators, as well as affiliates looking to circumvent regulations would face harsh penalties.
