The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed a fine of €1,125,000 on Blue High House SA for offering online games of chance without the necessary permit. This is prohibited. Blue High House had previously been given a penalty payment order for the illegal offer.

On the website betonline.ag, owned by Blue High House, Dutch players could participate in online gambling. No measures had been taken to keep players from the Netherlands out. During its investigation, the KSA found various abuses that led to a higher fine than the basic fine of €600,000 being imposed. The offer on the website in question has now been stopped, but the KSA is closely monitoring that the provider does not offer illegally on the Dutch market again via other channels. If the KSA does find this, new sanctions may follow.

Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the board of the KSA, said: “The Netherlands has a legal market to ensure that people who want to gamble can do so safely. With illegal providers, such as in this case blue high house, we often see that risky gaming behavior is not taken into account in any way. For example, players can create an account on this website without having to verify their age, which means that minors can also play. We also saw things like autoplay and turboplay, which can encourage excessive gaming, and there were no gaming limits. The KSA takes tough action against these types of illegal websites.”

The UK Government has been urged to restrict gambling advertising in Northern Ireland.

Members of the Stormont Assembly’s All Party Group on Reducing Harm Relating to Gambling have written to Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, asking her to act to protect the public in the region.

In a letter sent at the end of Safer Gambling Week, the MLAs, including the group’s chairman Philip McGuigan (Sinn Fein) and Robbie Butler (UUP), have asked Ms Nandy to bridge a gap around gambling advertising online.

They said Northern Ireland is an outlier in the UK in not having updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet.

While gambling policy is devolved, MLAs are concerned there is not enough time remaining in the current Assembly mandate to be able to pass a new Bill.

The Irish Parliament recently passed legislation introducing tight restrictions on gambling marketing.

It includes a new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland which has the power to set the times, places and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, displayed or published.

In their letter to Ms Nandy, the MLAs write: “We urge you to use your existing powers under the Gambling Act 2005 to take immediate action on gambling advertising and promotion and protect people across these islands from further gambling-related harm.”

They pointed to a recent cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University showing that young people across the island of Ireland are exposed to “extremely high levels of gambling marketing” through televised sports programmes and social media content.

“Northern Ireland now stands alone as the only jurisdiction on these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet,” they wrote.

“Unfortunately, our Executive does not have sufficient legislative time in the current Assembly mandate to take forward a Gambling Bill.

“This leaves our population here (who already experience the highest levels of gambling-related harm across these islands) highly vulnerable.”

“While remote gambling operators licensed by the Gambling Commission can freely advertise in Northern Ireland, as online and broadcast advertising is a reserved matter, our population is afforded no protection by the regulator.

“However, you have the power under existing laws to prevent our children from being bombarded with gambling related marketing during major sports broadcasts, such as Premier League matches, and prevent those already experiencing gambling harms from being targeted by gambling companies on social media.

“Introducing restrictions similar to those in Ireland would have a profound benefit for Northern Ireland, Britain and Ireland, where British TV is widely watched.”

“We urge you to use your existing powers to take immediate action to restrict the promotion of gambling in the UK and reduce the harm caused by gambling across these islands.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport indicated they would respond to the letter from the MLAs in due course.

Growing regional fragmentation, the emergence of new legal frameworks, and the rising importance of sustainability and social responsibility are reshaping the regulatory landscape in the iGaming industry for 2025. Recognising the critical role regulation plays in the sector’s future, SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience, has highlighted these trends in its latest report.

The SOFTSWISS team identifies the evolving regulatory environment as one of the key challenges and opportunities for operators and suppliers in the coming year. As global markets, including untapped regions, adopt stricter compliance measures, the ability to adapt and innovate within these frameworks is becoming a decisive factor for success.

The recent iGaming Trends 2025 Report from SOFTSWISS delves deeper into these transformations, exploring the impact of heightened regulation on industry dynamics. Key trends in the regulatory sphere include:

Regional Fragmentation:

During the research, industry experts were asked to rate the current legal environment in iGaming on a scale of 1 to 10. The average score was 6.1. While this indicates the environment is generally functional, it also suggests considerable room for improvement.

At the same time, compliance requirements are becoming increasingly fragmented, with countries implementing diverse rules regarding taxation, advertising, and player protection. To overcome this challenge, companies must demonstrate agility in adapting to localised demands effectively.

Emerging Markets:

As regions like Latin America, Asia, and Africa introduce formal regulatory structures, operators have unique opportunities to establish a foothold in these high-growth markets. However, navigating these emerging regulations will be essential for long-term success.

Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS, comments: “The key to identifying the right markets goes beyond upfront costs or immediate profitability. True capital lies in market knowledge, operational flexibility, and the ability to build meaningful partnerships. These are the assets that lead to sustainable growth and the most promising opportunities.”

Sustainability in Compliance:

Sustainability and social responsibility are becoming integral to regulation. Governments are focusing on ensuring fairness, preventing problem gambling, and increasing transparency in licensing.

This shift drives up operators’ costs and raises the bar for trust. Compliance is no longer just about meeting minimum standards; it is about building businesses that players, regulators, and investors can trust over the long term.

The iGaming Trends 2025 Report comprehensively analyses the industry’s most important directions for the year ahead. From the convergence of AI and cybersecurity to evolving marketing strategies and business development trends, the report is a must-read for anyone shaping the future of iGaming.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.