KSA Fines Sarah Eternal SRL €900,000 for Illegal Gambling

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) is cracking down hard on illegal gambling operators.

In its latest enforcement action, the regulator has fined Sarah Eternal SRL €900,000 for illegally offering gambling in the Netherlands.

The investigation revealed serious violations, including the lack of age verification and the acceptance of cryptocurrency payments.

As the Netherlands strengthens its gaming laws, the KSA continues to impose heavy penalties on non-compliant operators.

Dutch Regulator KSA Issues €900,000 Fine to Sarah Eternal SRL for Illegal Gambling

Key Points:

1. The KSA fined Sarah Eternal SRL €900,000 for illegally operating online gambling through Casinosky.

   • The company failed to prevent Dutch players from accessing the site, violating national gambling regulations.

2. Major violations included inadequate age verification and accepting cryptocurrency transactions.

   • The site potentially allowed minors to gamble and facilitated unregulated crypto-based gambling.

3. The fine is part of KSA’s broader enforcement strategy against unlicensed operators.

   • Earlier this year, Alimaniere received a €1.1m penalty for similar violations.

KSA’s Investigation and Findings

The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has taken decisive action against Sarah Eternal SRL, issuing a €900,000 fine for illegally offering gambling services to Dutch residents.

The company operated through its online casino platform Casinosky, failing to implement measures to restrict access from the Netherlands.

According to KSA, the platform allowed Dutch players to create accounts, deposit funds, and place bets without proper restrictions.

Additionally, two major compliance failures were identified:

• No Age Verification Measures – Players could register and gamble without confirming their identity, increasing the risk of underage gambling.
• Acceptance of Cryptocurrency Payments – The platform permitted deposits and withdrawals in cryptocurrency, a payment method not regulated under Dutch gambling laws.

KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen emphasized the regulator’s commitment to protecting Dutch players:

“The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely. With these types of illegal providers, we often see that no account is taken of the prevention of risky gaming behavior. As KSA, we take tough action against these types of parties.”

KSA’s Broader Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

The €900,000 fine against Sarah Eternal SRL is part of KSA’s wider effort to eliminate unlicensed gambling operators from the Dutch market.

In 2023, the company had already received a €280,000 penalty for similar violations.

In January 2024, the regulator fined Alimaniere €1.1m for operating unauthorized gambling websites targeting Dutch players.

Despite enforcement measures, Alimaniere attempted to relaunch its services under a different platform, leading to further regulatory action.

This trend highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal operators attempting to circumvent Dutch gambling laws.

The Netherlands Tightens Gambling Regulations

Alongside its crackdown on illegal operators, the Netherlands has been implementing stricter regulations to enhance consumer protection.

Impact of New Deposit Limits

Since October 2024, new player deposit limits have contributed to:

• Fewer players setting high deposit limits
• A reduction in average gambling losses

The KSA’s data-driven approach aims to ensure that licensed operators maintain a safe and responsible gambling environment.

With increased penalties and stricter policies, the Dutch government continues to refine its regulatory framework to keep gambling fair and secure.

Conclusion: A Warning to Non-Compliant Operators

The KSA’s €900,000 fine against Sarah Eternal SRL sends a clear message: The Netherlands will not tolerate illegal gambling activities.

As Dutch regulators tighten their grip on compliance, operators must adhere to licensing rules or face severe financial penalties.

With further regulatory updates expected, legitimate operators must prioritize responsible gaming practices to remain compliant in the evolving Dutch market.