Netherlands Gambling Authority Issues Record Fine for Unlicensed Online Gambling Operations

The Netherlands Gambling Authority, known as Kansspelautoriteit or KSA, has imposed its largest fine to date on EOD Code SRL, a company registered in Costa Rica, for running twelve unlicensed online casino and sports-betting platforms that reached Dutch users. Sites involved include Instantcasino, Skyhills and others that operated without geographic restrictions or required player protections, allowing access from within the Netherlands throughout the relevant period. Officials calculated the penalty at €37 to €37.25 million, equivalent to roughly US$41.5 to 41.7 million, after reviewing estimated Dutch gross gaming revenue of around €108 million generated in 2025. This approach departed from standard tariff schedules because of multiple aggravating circumstances, among them the complete absence of age-verification systems and other mandatory safeguards. The decision follows an earlier penalty order that EOD Code SRL did not address.

Details of the Unlicensed Platforms and Market Access

Investigators found that the twelve sites maintained no technical blocks preventing Dutch IP addresses from loading registration or deposit pages, which directly violated rules requiring operators to restrict access to players in jurisdictions without valid licenses. EOD Code SRL held no Dutch remote-gambling permit at any point, yet the platforms accepted deposits and processed bets from users located in the country on a continuous basis.

Those who examined the operator’s systems noted that standard verification steps, including checks against national identity databases and age confirmation protocols, were never implemented across any of the twelve domains. The lack of these controls meant minors and self-excluded individuals could create accounts and place wagers without encountering the barriers Dutch law requires every licensed operator to maintain.

Calculation of the Penalty and Aggravating Factors

Regulators determined the final amount by scaling the fine to the operator’s estimated Dutch revenue rather than applying base tariff tables, a method permitted when evidence shows repeated or serious breaches. Documentation released with the October 2026 decision lists missing age verification, failure to honor prior orders, and the scale of revenue generated from the unlicensed activity as the primary reasons for the elevated figure.

Figures supplied by the authority indicate that the €108 million in gross gaming revenue formed the reference point for the assessment, after which adjustments were applied to reflect the duration of the violations and the absence of any corrective measures by the company. Observers note that this revenue-based methodology produces substantially higher penalties when operators generate significant turnover before enforcement actions conclude.

Sequence of Enforcement Actions

The record fine follows an initial penalty order that EOD Code SRL received earlier but did not contest or pay. Because the company failed to respond or cease operations, KSA proceeded to the higher sanction now in effect. Public statements from the authority confirm that the October 2026 ruling incorporates both the original violations and the subsequent non-compliance.

Those who reviewed the case files report that the operator maintained active marketing and payment processing channels targeting Dutch players even after the first order became known. This continued activity contributed directly to the decision to apply the maximum available multiplier under current enforcement guidelines.

Regulatory Context and Reporting Obligations

Under Dutch remote-gambling legislation, any platform offering real-money games or betting to residents must hold a license issued by the KSA and must deploy geo-blocking together with robust identity checks. EOD Code SRL’s twelve sites satisfied none of these requirements, resulting in the classification of the activity as illegal provision of gambling services.

Data compiled during the investigation shows that the platforms processed thousands of transactions from Dutch accounts before the sites were eventually taken offline or restricted. The authority has indicated it will continue monitoring similar operations and will apply comparable enforcement tools whenever revenue figures and compliance failures warrant elevated penalties.

Conclusion

The October 2026 ruling against EOD Code SRL establishes a new benchmark for financial sanctions in the Netherlands gambling market. By tying the penalty amount to documented Dutch revenue and accounting for repeated non-compliance, the KSA has signaled that future cases involving large-scale unlicensed activity will receive similarly structured assessments. The decision remains available through official KSA channels for public review.