KSA imposes weekly penalty on FBC BV for unlicensed gambling

The Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed a weekly penalty on Curaçao-based FBC BV for offering games of chance through its website FreeBitco.in, without the required licence.

The penalty, which amounts to €280,000 per week up to a maximum of €840,000, aims to compel the company to cease its operations in the Netherlands.

Multiple investigations

Between January 2023 and November 2024, the KSA conducted multiple investigations into FreeBitco.in’s activities.

According to the regulator, the platform allowed Dutch users to create accounts, deposit funds, and participate in unlicensed games of chance, including sports betting.

During the investigation, a KSA inspector successfully registered as a player, deposited bitcoin, and placed a bet on a football match.

No measures were in place to block Dutch participants, a direct violation of Dutch gambling laws.

FBC’s defence

In its defence, FBC BV argued that FreeBitco.in primarily serves as a giveaway platform, allowing users to win bitcoin.

The company also claimed it had blocked Dutch IP addresses from accessing its gambling features.

However, a KSA re-inspection on 5 November revealed otherwise, as Dutch users could still place bets.

FBC BV requested extensions to address the violations, citing technical challenges and internal disagreements, but failed to implement effective changes, the authority said.

Despite warnings and opportunities to rectify its violations, FBC BV’s unlicensed activities persisted, prompting the KSA to enforce the penalty.

FBC BV has filed objections against the decision, but the penalties remain in place pending further legal proceedings.

The company’s regulatory issues also extend beyond the Netherlands.

Earlier in December, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued a formal warning to FBC for illegally providing unlicensed gambling services through FreeBitco.in to Australian customers.

KSA chair Michel Groothuizen pledged that the regulator would ramp up enforcement efforts to tackle the growing black market.

“We will send out warning letters more often and deliver short, quick blows, such as with an order subject to a penalty,” Groothuizen said in July.

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