Dutch Regulator Fines Chestoption €3.08m for Illegal Gambling

KSA Issues Multi-Million-Euro Fine

The Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has fined Chestoption Sociedad de Responsibilidad Limitada €3.082 million. The regulator said the company offered online gambling in the Netherlands without permission. Under Dutch law, operators must have a local license before serving players.

The case involved several websites connected to the company. One of them was Vave.com. Authorities said Dutch users could access the casinos without restrictions.

Company Appeared to Target Dutch Players

The KSA said several signs pointed to Dutch players. The websites were available in English. However, the company also used Dutch-language advertising to promote its services.

According to the regulator, this showed an effort to attract users from the Netherlands. At the same time, the company did not put measures in place to stop Dutch players from joining.

Those findings helped build the case — and increased regulatory attention. The regulator had already taken action before issuing the fine. Earlier, Chestoption received a penalty order that required it to stop the activity.

Several Issues Increased the Fine

The KSA said several factors made the case more serious. These included:

• No age verification checks.

• Autoplay or turbo play features.

• Cryptocurrency payment options.

The regulator views these features as higher risk. Because of that, they can lead to larger penalties. Age checks help stop minors from accessing gambling services. Fast-play features may encourage users to place bets more quickly. Crypto payments also remain a concern — especially on unlicensed casinos.

KSA Continues Crackdown on Illegal Operators

The fine is part of a wider effort against illegal gambling. The KSA does not rely only on fines. It also works with other groups to limit illegal activity. These groups include payment providers, hosting companies, banks, and large technology firms.

Nevertheless, some offshore companies still try to enter regulated markets without approval. The Chestoption case sends a clear message — operators must follow Dutch rules before offering services to local players. Hence, the regulator appears ready to keep increasing pressure on companies that ignore those rules.