KSA Hits Chestoption With €3m Fine for Illegal Gambling Site Targeting Dutch Players

The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has imposed a fine of €3,082,000 on Chestoption Sociedad de Responsibilidad Limitada after finding that the company offered games of chance through the website Vave.com without holding the required license.

This violation followed an earlier order subject to a penalty, which had already been issued against the operator.

Chestoption, based in Costa Rica, ran websites in English while also advertising in Dutch, making clear attempts to attract players from the Netherlands. Regulators noted that no safeguards were in place to block Dutch participation.

The sites also lacked basic protections, with no age verification and features such as autoplay and turboplay available. Payments could even be made using cryptocurrencies, which added to the seriousness of the case.

Enforcement against illegal gambling offers is not limited to fines alone. The authority explained that it also works closely with third parties, including payment providers, hosting services, banks, and major tech companies, to cut off support for unlicensed operators.

Full gambling ads and bonus ban in the works

The past week has seen the Dutch regulator, KSA, step up enforcement, with actions against Betnation for breaking self‑exclusion rules, TOTO Online for ignoring the role‑model advertising ban, and a fine of €886,000 handed to 711 over responsible gambling failings.

Officials in the Netherlands are also preparing a sweeping overhaul of online gambling rules, citing rising addiction concerns since the market was legalised.

They say more people are gambling online than ever before, and the number of those developing problems has climbed sharply. Young people and young adults are described as the most at risk, which has pushed lawmakers to act.

Under the new plan, all online gambling advertising will be banned outright, bonuses will be scrapped, and strict deposit limits will be introduced unless players can prove they can afford higher amounts.

The government is also considering stronger tools to block illegal sites and may even reduce the number of licensed operators.

“I find it particularly worrying that more and more people, especially young people, have started gambling online and are getting into trouble as a result. It is high time to reverse this trend,” State Secretary Claudia van Brugge said at the time.

“With the proposed measures, I am taking an important step towards better protecting people against the negative effects of gambling, such as addiction and debt. Special attention is paid to young people and young adults because they are extra susceptible to the risks of gambling.”

KSA Hits Chestoption With €3m Fine for Illegal Gambling Site Targeting Dutch Players

Full gambling ads and bonus ban in the works

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