Vbet Has Been Missing from Google Search in the Netherlands for Seven Months
Vbet, a licensed operator in the Netherlands, has been excluded from Google’s organic search results in the country since December 2024.
The Core Issue
Since December 18, 2024, the Vbet Netherlands website has vanished from Google’s organic search. Instead, the search engine displays fake websites that redirect users to illegal platforms. This has caused significant commercial and reputational damage to the operator.
Despite repeated efforts to resolve the issue via official Google support channels and the Dutch Meld Vals Spel portal, the company has received little meaningful assistance. A single automated reply from the portal remains the only response to a complaint submitted on May 5, 2025.
Vbet’s Criticism
Vbet’s regional director Ed Quigley openly criticized the inefficacy of Meld Vals Spel:
What’s the point of the portal if nothing is done with the reports?
The company also attempted several times to engage with Google’s technical team, but only received generic guidance and suggestions to increase spending on paid search advertising.
What Vbet Is Doing
Vbet is working with both in-house SEO experts and external consultants, including SoftConstruct’s SEO lead David Mkrtchyan. He suggests that the situation may be caused by either negative SEO attacks or Google algorithm errors that mistakenly penalized the legitimate website.
Even after following all official recovery recommendations, Vbet’s site remains absent from organic search. Google has not acknowledged responsibility, nor has it provided a direct line of communication with its search teams.
Context and Consequences
- The issue has persisted for over seven months
- Fake websites continue to rank in search results
- Lost traffic is not converting into customers
- User trust has been significantly damaged
The Role of Meld Vals Spel
Meld Vals Spel was launched in 2024 by industry associations VNLOK and NOGA to combat the illegal gambling market. However, operators say the portal has failed to deliver: reports go unanswered, and no action is taken.
Organizational Merger
In 2025, VNLOK and NOGA announced a merger to strengthen the industry’s voice. However, neither body has been able to assist Vbet in restoring its online presence.
Potential Next Steps
The company is considering escalating the issue to Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator. While no official complaint has been filed yet, that could soon change.
Conclusion
Vbet is in a critical position: unfindable on Google, losing customers, and facing a crisis of user trust.
Neither Google nor Meld Vals Spel has provided effective tools to resolve the issue, despite their central role in the digital ecosystem.
The continued inaction by major platforms undermines the efforts of licensed operators and hampers the fight against illegal websites.