Dutch regulator fines offshore operator record €37 million for illegal gambling
The penalty is the largest ever imposed by the Ksa and was based on the company's estimated Dutch turnover.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued its largest ever fine for illegal gambling, penalizing EOD Code SRL €37 million. The regulator, known as the Ksa, announced the penalty on October 22, 2026. It determined the amount based on an estimate of the company's turnover from Dutch players, departing from its standard fine tables. The Costa Rica-registered company operated a network of twelve casino websites without a Dutch licence.
An investigation began with one brand, Instantcasino, and expanded to uncover eleven others linked to the same operator. These included Skyhills, Slotmonster, Betiro, Fastslots, Goldenpanda and Winningz. Ksa investigators were able to register and gamble on several of the sites, which did not block access from the Netherlands. The regulator noted the sites lacked visible age verification and offered cryptocurrency and other anonymous payment methods, which it said facilitate money laundering.
The Ksa had previously issued EOD Code with an order subject to penalty payments for the same unlicensed activity. Under its standard policy, the regulator uses set base amounts for fines. In this case, it concluded those amounts would be disproportionate to the operator's Dutch earnings and instead applied a turnover-based calculation. The Ksa stated, “Deze boete voor EOD Code is de hoogste boete die de Ksa tot nu toe voor illegaal aanbod heeft opgelegd.”
This fine surpasses the €25 million record penalty levied against Novatech earlier in the year. The move signals to offshore operators that penalties can now be scaled to match estimated revenue, not capped at a fixed sum. The Dutch online gambling market was legalized in October 2021, but unlicensed sites continue to capture significant activity. The Ksa estimated last year that more money is spent with illegal operators than with licensed ones. In August, broadcaster BNR reported that illegal operators were targeting individuals on the national self-exclusion register, Cruks, via Facebook and Instagram ads. The Dutch cabinet proposed a ban on online gambling advertising and bonuses in June. Alongside financial penalties, the Ksa says it collaborates with payment processors, hosting companies, banks and large tech firms to disrupt illegal operations.
Isabelle Moreau is the editor of Novello Desserts and writes about family life and everyday living in Canada. The editor signs off on corrections and editorial standards.