KSA teams up with Cloudflare to push back against illegal gambling in the Netherlands

The Dutch Gaming Authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has collaborated with global server network Cloudflare to track down unregulated gambling websites.

This follows a detailed discussion between the two organisations that has led to strategic planning to tackle illegal gambling services offered to Dutch customers. 

As an example of their collaborative work, the KSA previously investigated illegal affiliate websites nederlandscasinos.net and onlinecasinosspelen.com. After being unable to identify their owners, the regulator leveraged Cloudflare’s internet service provider status to block access to the affiliates. 

Both entities will now increase the information sharing between them to combat other offerings when necessary. 

During active investigations the KSA maintains the right to question Cloudflare on the hosting parties behind illegal gambling websites, which will in term ensure the safeguarding of the Dutch market. 

“It is forbidden to offer games of chance in the Netherlands without a licence from the KSA. The promotion of illegal gambling is also not permitted under the Gambling Act,” the KSA said.

“In order to combat illegal supply, the Ksa takes various measures, such as erecting barriers with payment providers or internet providers. By ensuring that these intermediaries no longer offer their services to illegal providers, illegal offers are made more difficult or possibly even stopped altogether.”

This is just the latest development in the tightening of the KSA’s monitoring of the Dutch online gambling market in the Netherlands. Outgoing KSA Chairman René Jansen has been pushing Legal Minister Franc Weerwind to allow ‘covert agents’ ahead of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) revision scheduled for this year.