Blue High House Fined €1.13M for Illegal Online Gambling

A major crackdown in the Netherlands as Blue High House SA faces a €1.13 million fine for illegal online gambling.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) revealed serious violations, including a lack of age verification and autoplay features encouraging risky behavior.

The penalty highlights the importance of compliance with Dutch gambling laws to protect players and maintain market integrity.

Learn more about this case and how the KSA is ensuring safer gambling practices in the Netherlands.

€1.13M Fine Issued to Blue High House for Unlicensed Gambling in the Netherlands

Key Points:

1. Blue High House Fined €1.13M: The KSA penalized the operator for running unlicensed online gambling services targeting Dutch players.
2. Serious Breaches Identified: Violations included no age verification, autoplay features, and the absence of responsible gaming safeguards.
3. KSA Enforces Compliance: The regulator is committed to ensuring safe, legal gambling in the Netherlands, with further sanctions for repeat offenses.

Blue High House Hit with €1.13M Fine for Illegal Gambling

The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed a hefty fine of €1.13 million ($1.18 million) on Blue High House SA for operating unlicensed online gambling services targeting Dutch players. The decision comes after a detailed investigation into the operator’s activities, revealing significant breaches of Dutch gambling laws.

The fine stems from violations related to betonline.ag, a website operated by Blue High House, which unlawfully allowed Dutch players to gamble without adhering to mandatory regulations. This isn’t the first time the operator has come under scrutiny; it had previously been issued a penalty payment order for similar violations.

Investigation Uncovers Major Breaches

The KSA’s investigation identified multiple serious breaches, justifying the increased penalty above the baseline fine of €600,000. Key violations included:

1. No Age Verification: Players could create accounts without verifying their age, exposing minors to gambling risks.
2. Autoplay and Turboplay Features: These options encouraged excessive gaming by enabling continuous play without manual input.
3. Lack of Responsible Gaming Safeguards: The platform failed to provide tools for setting player-imposed limits, ignoring vital player protection measures.

These findings underscored the operator’s disregard for responsible gaming principles, prompting swift and decisive action from the KSA.

KSA’s Response and Commitment

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the KSA board, emphasized the regulator’s commitment to protecting Dutch players and maintaining market integrity.

“The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely,” Groothuizen stated. “With illegal providers like Blue High House, risky gaming behavior is often disregarded entirely. Minors can create accounts, and autoplay features encourage excessive gambling without limits. The KSA takes tough action against these types of illegal websites.”

The KSA also reaffirmed its vigilance, ensuring that Blue High House does not re-enter the Dutch market under a different guise. Any future violations will result in additional sanctions, reflecting the regulator’s zero-tolerance policy toward unlicensed operators.

Broader Implications

The fine against Blue High House is part of the KSA’s broader effort to crack down on illegal gambling operators and safeguard players in the Netherlands. Earlier this month, the regulator fined Alimaniere for offering unauthorized gambling services to Dutch players, signaling a consistent approach to enforcement.

The Netherlands’ regulated gambling market was established to protect players and offer secure, responsible gaming options. Illegal operators undermine this system by failing to implement basic protections like age verification, responsible gaming tools, and anti-addiction measures.

The €1.13 million fine imposed on Blue High House sends a clear message: unlicensed gambling operators have no place in the Netherlands. By targeting illegal platforms, the KSA continues to protect players and uphold the integrity of the regulated gambling market.

This case also highlights the importance of responsible gaming measures, such as age verification and player-imposed limits, in creating a safe gambling environment. Operators looking to enter the Dutch market must comply with these standards to avoid severe penalties.

As the KSA remains vigilant, the public can expect further actions to ensure compliance and maintain a fair, secure gambling ecosystem in the Netherlands.