Dutch Regulator Again Fines Helmond Bar Over Illegal Betting Kiosk
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has imposed a conditional penalty of €10,000 per violation on the owner of a hospitality venue in Helmond, after repeated discoveries of illegal betting terminals. A follow-up inspection in February 2025 revealed that the operator had reinstalled the same prohibited gambling software, despite a prior enforcement action just months earlier.
Repeat violation leads to enforcement
The initial inspection took place in November 2024, when two illegal betting kiosks were discovered and confiscated. These devices allowed customers to place bets on sports outcomes using unlicensed software connected to the internet. During a second inspection in February 2025, regulators found that one of the kiosks had returned – again running the same illegal software.
As a result, the Kansspelautoriteit issued a conditional penalty (“last onder dwangsom”) of €10,000 for each detected violation, with a total potential fine of up to €20,000 if further infractions occur.
Illegal kiosks present serious risks
Known locally as gokzuilen, these betting kiosks are banned in the Netherlands. They function without regulatory oversight, making them particularly dangerous for consumers. There are no safeguards to ensure fair play, protect minors, or address gambling addiction. The software’s reliability cannot be assessed, and players are left without legal recourse in case of disputes.
Moreover, operators of such illegal devices often evade taxes, increasing the risk of money laundering. The KSA considers the presence of these kiosks in legal businesses – such as bars or retail locations – a sign of broader criminal activity and undermining of legitimate enterprises.