The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a record EUR 37 million ($44.4 million) fine on EOD Code SRL for allegedly providing online gambling to players in the Netherlands without a license.
Largest Penalty So Far
The penalty is the largest ever issued by the regulator for illegal gambling operations, surpassing previous fines against unlicensed online casino operators.
The company operated multiple websites, including Instantcasino and Skyhills, that enabled Dutch residents to engage in gambling without the proper measures to block access.
According to the KSA, EOD Code had previously received an order subject to penalty payments over its activities.
During a subsequent investigation, authorities attempted to gamble on the company’s websites and succeeded, indicating that Dutch players could still access the services.
The investigation initially focused on Instantcasino but expanded to include 11 other websites identified by the regulator: Skyhills.com, slotmonster.com, betiro.com, betblast.com, fastslots.com, goldenpanda.com, fastslots.com, sambaslots.com, winningz.com, incognitocasino.com, foxygold.com and luckypays.io.
The KSA also identified several factors that increased the seriousness of the violations. These included the absence of visible age verification measures and the acceptance of cryptocurrency and anonymous payment methods, which the authority said could encourage money laundering.
Fine Based on Estimated Revenue
The massive penalty reflects the regulator’s assessment that standard fines would not adequately account for the revenue generated by the illegal gambling activities.
Under the KSA’s approach, penalties can be calculated using estimated turnover when the usual sanctions are considered too low relative to the financial gains from the violations. In this case, the authority concluded that EOD Code had earned more from bets placed by Dutch players than a standard penalty would reflect.
The regulator also noted that EOD Code claimed on its website to be registered and regulated in Costa Rica.
The new penalty exceeds the previous record fine of almost €24.8 million, imposed in March 2026 on Novatech, which operated the Qbet.com and 55bet.com websites.
Another major case involved Gammix, the operator associated with Rantcasino.com and Betoriginal.com, which received a fine of almost €20 million in 2024.
The latest case adds to the Dutch regulator’s efforts to tackle online gambling operators that target local players without the required authorization. The KSA’s findings highlight its focus not only on the absence of a license but also on safeguards relating to age verification and payment methods.