Dutch state-owned lottery operator Nederlandse Loterij has announced legal action against Qbet, describing it as currently the largest illegal gambling site operating in the Netherlands.
The operator is taking the individuals behind the online casino to court, seeking to have the platform shut down and kept inaccessible. It says it aims to protect players from illegal and high-risk gambling practices.
Last year, Nederlandse Loterij filed a case against another illegal operator, Lalabet, with the initial hearing scheduled for this week.
Nederlandse Loterij has clarified that its legal action targets not only the operators but also those who enable access to the sites.
The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has already imposed a record fine of nearly €25m ($29.2m) on Novatech Solutions, the company behind Qbet, for providing illegal online gambling services. The fine was substantial due to Qbet’s significant revenue from Dutch players.
According to the regulator, the company failed to implement measures to block access from the Netherlands. Qbet is also accused of facilitating money laundering through cryptocurrencies and anonymous payment methods.
Commenting on the fine, Michel Groothuizen, KSA Chairman, stated: “We determine the amount of the fine on the basis of the (estimated) turnover that the illegal provider has achieved from players from the Netherlands.
“In doing so, we are limited by the law that says that the fine may be a maximum of 10% of the worldwide turnover. A fine of 24 million sounds impressive, but without the maximum of 10%, the fine would have amounted to more than 100 million euros; an amount that would be better suited to this violation."
As part of the Qbet investigation, KSA employees were able to create accounts, make deposits and take part in illegal games of chance on the site
