Dutch Regulator Orders Starscream to Halt Gambling Activities or Face Heavy Fines

Holland’s gambling authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a formal cease order against online casino operator Starscream, instructing the company to immediately end its illegal operations in the Netherlands or face steep weekly fines of €280,000. Should Starscream fail to comply, penalties could accumulate up to €840,000 over three weeks.

The KSA’s enforcement action follows an investigation which found Starscream in breach of Dutch regulations by allowing players in the Netherlands to access unlicensed gambling offerings through websites such as rantcasino.com, sugarcasino.com, and allstarzcasino.com. According to the regulator, Starscream’s inadequate blocking measures enabled Dutch consumers to gamble illegally, triggering the imposition of weekly penalties for ongoing violations.

Background:

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) was established in 2012 as an independent regulatory authority responsible for supervising and regulating the Dutch gambling market. Its primary objectives are to protect consumers, ensure the integrity of the market, and prevent gambling addiction. The KSA gained expanded powers with the Remote Gambling Act, which came into force in 2021, allowing licensed online gambling under strict conditions and reinforcing the regulator’s authority to act against illegal operators.

The KSA has been particularly active in 2025. Earlier this month, it fined Techno Offshore €1.2 million for illegal casino operations and issued a €734,000 fine to an unnamed operator for failing to adequately prevent underage gambling. The regulator also announced plans to intensify its crackdown on illegal gambling apps throughout the year.

Adding to the pressure on the industry, the Dutch government proposed raising the minimum age for participation in high-risk gambling activities from 18 to 21 earlier this year, aiming to strengthen consumer protection measures in a market that continues to see rapid growth.

Meanwhile, regulatory tightening is not limited to the Netherlands. In Ireland, the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has launched its first major consultation, asking operators for feedback on key operational and licensing standards ahead of the full commencement of the Gambling Regulation Act. This shows a wider European trend toward stricter oversight of the gambling sector, with regulators across the continent stepping up their enforcement and consumer protection initiatives.

Last Month, the KSA also issued an identical cease order to Gamusoft, the company behind skin-gambling linked to Counter-Strike 2, imposing weekly fines of €280,000 until its illegal games of chance are no longer accessible to Dutch players.

Meanwhile, regulatory tightening is not limited to the Netherlands. Here In Ireland, the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has launched its first major consultation, asking operators for feedback on key operational and licensing standards ahead of the full commencement of the Gambling Regulation Act. This shows a wider European trend toward stricter oversight of the gambling sector, with regulators across the continent stepping up their enforcement and consumer protection initiatives.