The Dutch Gaming Authority has levied an administrative fine of €3.1 million against Chestoption Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.
This operator is based in Costa Rica. It was penalized for illegally offering online gambling options within the Netherlands without holding the required regulatory license.
Following a comprehensive multi month investigation, the Dutch regulator proved that consumers throughout the Netherlands were able to seamlessly access platforms. They completed account registrations and executed real money financial deposits. They participated in interactive casino games across three distinct websites managed directly by the operator. These target domains included Vave.com, Vave luck.com, and 67evav55.com.
Documented Targeting and Aggravating Factors
In its formal enforcement decision, the regulator declared that the digital properties were explicitly optimized to target the Dutch consumer market. To support this finding, the regulator documented extensive Dutch language affiliate marketing networks actively directing traffic to the sites. They found localized sports betting markets tailored specifically around the top tier Eredivisie football league of the country. They also noted a total absence of effective geo blocking protocols designed to prevent Dutch IP addresses from accessing the software.
Furthermore, the authority identified several aggravating operational factors. These factors significantly escalated the final baseline financial penalty. These included a complete absence of visible age verification checkpoints during registration. The operator also utilized automated autoplay mechanics. These are strictly prohibited under the Dutch Betting and Gaming Act. They also accepted cryptocurrency payments for gambling activities.
Serious regulatory concerns were also raised regarding restrictive withdrawal clauses deemed explicitly predatory to consumers. Players on the network were legally forced by platform terms to wager their deposited funds multiple times before being granted permission to cash out. Separate clauses blocked users from freely reclaiming their account balances. The regulator noted that these financial conditions functioned specifically to incentivize continuous gambling behavior.
They did this by preventing safe withdrawals. The company is a repeat offender. They ignored a formal order issued last December, which originally carried a conditional €840,000 penalty. The operator has six weeks from the formal notification date of June 9 to lodge an administrative objection.
Collaborative Regulatory Frameworks
The regulatory body explained its comprehensive approach to enforcing compliance against unlicensed operators:
“Taking action against illegal offerings is not limited to administrative fines but also involves intensive cooperation with third parties, such as payment service providers, hosting parties, banks, and major tech companies.”
Enforcement Action on Promotional Lotteries
In a concurrent regulatory action, the authority announced it has issued a separate conditional penalty payment order against an unnamed corporate entity. This was for organizing an illegal promotional lottery. Under current Dutch law, commercial businesses are legally permitted to distribute promotional prizes to market their standard services. They must adhere to strict statutory limits. These limits dictate that entry must remain entirely free for all participants. Such corporate drawings can only occur once per calendar year.
In this specific enforcement case, the regulator detailed the breakdown of the infraction and the subsequent financial consequences:
“The KSA received several reports about a company raffling off cars with some regularity. Customers of the company who purchased services or products for a minimum amount were entered into a draw to win a car. The regulator contacted the company to inform it of the rules around promotional lotteries and that it could take action. However, as the company in question continued to run prize draws after contact from KSA, the regulator imposed the penalty payment order. Should the company not halt promotional lotteries, it will face a penalty of €150,000 per violation, up to a maximum of €450,000.”
