Dutch study warns of rising dangers in illegal online gambling market

A new study has warned that players in the Netherlands who turn to illegal online gambling sites face serious risks, ranging from the loss of winnings to the misuse of personal data. The research, conducted by the Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (KVA), examined six offshore gambling operators that actively target Dutch players outside the country’s regulated system.

KVA, an advisory body created by law firm XY Legal Solutions, found that offshore operators, including Booms Bet, Vegas Hero, and Tomb Riches, were easily accessible to users through illegal affiliate websites and search terms such as “casino without Cruks.”

Cruks is the Dutch national self-exclusion register, and investigators found that these sites deliberately sought to attract individuals who had excluded themselves from licensed platforms.

To test the risks, researchers anonymously created player accounts and were able to register and place bets without identity verification. The study also reviewed operators’ legal documents and privacy policies, uncovering that all six allowed for personal data to be shared with third-party companies located outside the European Union.

The report concluded that “extensive and unlimited data sharing with commercial partners” was among the most significant threats to players. The analysis further revealed that several operators maintained terms and conditions described as “one-sided and unreasonable.”

In some cases, operators reserved the right to close accounts or withdraw winnings without explanation, and to delay or refuse payouts altogether. Because these companies are not supervised by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA), players have no recourse to enforce fair gaming standards or safeguards against addiction.

KVA also highlighted concerns that three of the six offshore operators accepted deposits from youth bank accounts, creating opportunities for underage individuals to gamble illegally. The absence of certified gaming systems also raised the risk of manipulated game outcomes.

The findings come amid concerns that new player protection measures introduced by Dutch regulators may be inadvertently driving gamblers to the black market. Since October 2024, licensed operators have been required to enforce strict deposit limits, capped at €700 ($813) per month for most adults and €300 ($348.45) for those aged 18 to 25.

According to KVA, traffic to illegal sites surged after these restrictions were introduced. Visits to black market domains jumped from 172,576 in October to 294,255 in November, reaching 412,997 by February. The number of unlicensed gambling domains appearing in top search results for “casino without limits” or “casino without Cruks” also rose sharply, from 19 last October to 72 by March this year.

The KSA has pursued measures such as sponsorship bans and tighter financial controls in an effort to strengthen player protection, but critics argue that these regulations are benefiting illegal operators by pushing players toward unlicensed platforms.