KSA imposes €24.85M fine on Novatech operator

In the Netherlands, the regulator KSA imposed a record €24.85 million fine on offshore operator Novatech Solutions N.V. (Qbet, 55Bet) for operating without a license.

Fines for unlicensed operators

The regulator KSA reported sanctions against two operators that provided access to gambling services in the Netherlands without a license.

Fine for Novatech Solutions

The operator Novatech Solutions N.V., which manages the brands Qbet and 55Bet, received a fine of €24.85 million for offering gambling services without a license.

According to the regulator, KSA agents were able to register on the operator’s websites, deposit funds, and play without restrictions.

Fine for Fortaprime

The second operator — Fortaprime SRL (AmonBet, Supraplay, Bilucky, GXSpins, Kaasino, HiddenJack, LuckyMax7) — was also fined €1.8 million for operating without a license.

Regulatory agents were able to complete registration, deposit funds, and access games on the operator’s brand websites.

How KSA calculates fines

The size of the sanctions is calculated based on the operator’s turnover.

Legal cap on penalties

In the Netherlands, the law sets a limit: the maximum fine can reach up to 10% of a company’s turnover.

According to the chairman of KSA, without this limitation the fine for Novatech Solutions could have exceeded €100 million.

Violations identified by the regulator

During the inspection, the regulator identified several violations on the operators’ websites.

Lack of age verification

The operators’ websites did not have age verification, which allowed users to register and play without confirming their age.

Acceptance of cryptocurrencies

The regulator also pointed to the acceptance of cryptocurrencies on the operators’ platforms.

Promotion through influencers

The brands of Fortaprime SRL were promoted by Dutch influencers. According to the regulator, these bloggers may also face fines.