KSA orders penalty payment against Blue High House
Despite a lengthy investigation and a formal letter from the KSA, the website is still allowing players from the Netherlands to participate in games of chance.
The Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), has issued a cease and desist order against Blue High House following an investigation into its website, with the potential for a penalty payment of €43,000 ($45,310) each week until the issue is resolved.
It was found that Blue High House was allowing players to play games of chance at its website, www.betonline.ag, without the necessary licence to do so.
This breaks Article 1 of the Gambling Act and, due to this, the KSA has issued a cease-and-desist order.
Investigations started into the website on 7 December 2021, when two agents from the KSA opened a case against the website operated by Blue High House.
During the investigation, the KSA found that not only could an individual create an account from the Netherlands, but the country was automatically selected on sign-up, as well as the area code +31 with the Dutch flag.
The case has been ongoing since, with investigators checking whether any measures had been taken to prevent players from the Netherlands from accessing the site.
It was also discovered that between May 2022 and May 2023, the website had received 136,569 visits from players in the Netherlands.
The KSA issued a letter on 29 June 2023 stating intent to impose a penalty order against the company, although Blue High House did not reply.
On 9 August 2023, a supervisor from the KSA discovered that it was still possible to participate in games of chance from the country.
As such, the KSA has issued a cease and desist immediately, with a penalty payment of €43,000 per week to be given if Blue High House does not adhere.
There is a maximum cap of €129,000 that can be imposed against the company at this time.
This isn’t the only penalty given out by the Gaming Authority recently, as only last week the KSA fined LCS Limited €2.1m for operating without a licence.
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
