Dutch regulator hits unlicensed operator with a €4.2m penalty
Starscream Limited sanctioned for offering illegal gambling, while the regulator also fines ComeOn Group for €750,000 over duty of care failings
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has handed out combined fines of €5m (£4.3m) to operators Starscream Limited and ComeOn Group.
St Lucia-based Starscream was given a €4.2m penalty for providing illegal gambling offerings to Netherlands-based players.
The company operates the rantcasino.com, allstarzcasino.com and sugarcasino.com brands in the market, without holding a Dutch licence.
On the sites in question, the KSA’s investigation found it was possible for Dutch players to create an account, make deposits and place bets.
At the time of the investigation, there were no protocols in place to prevent Dutch players from accessing the platforms.
In April 2025, the regulator threatened Starscream with a potential €840,000 fine if it continued to allow the websites to be accessed in the Netherlands.
KSA chair Michel Groothuizen said: “The Netherlands Gambling Authority has a wide range of tools at its disposal to tackle illegal providers. Imposing administrative fines is one of them.
“Although collecting such fines presents challenges, particularly for parties outside the EU, with these fines we continue to send the message that we are taking a tough stance against illegal offerings in the Netherlands.”
In addition to Starscream, the KSA also issued a €750,000 fine to Tulipa Ent Limited, which operates in the country under the ComeOn brand.
The fine was issued as a result of alleged duty of care failings which occurred between December 2023 and September 2024.
The regulator requested the files of 10 young adults who wagered with the platform and experienced large losses.
When examining the files, the KSA found “violations of the duty of care in all files”.
The investigation determined that signs of excessive gambling behaviour weren’t detected by ComeOn in time, resulting in “delayed or inappropriate” intervention on the operator’s part.
A KSA statement read: “Despite the numerous indications in the player files, it has become clear that Tulipa has conducted little to no investigation, or at most, too late, into the players’ financial position.
“If sums of that size are deposited or gambled away in a short period of time, this should signal to Tulipa that there is at least a possibility of excessive gambling behaviour.
“In such a case, Tulipa should take immediate action by conducting an investigation and, if necessary, taking appropriate measures. Tulipa has repeatedly failed to do so.”
Groothuizen added: “The KSA previously found that providers’ implementation of their duty of care varied too widely and often left much to be desired.
“We therefore conducted additional research with various providers, resulting in the various duty of care fines we are now seeing.
“Providers absolutely must not let slip something as essential as the duty of care, especially when it concerns vulnerable target groups such as young adults.”
EGR has reached out to ComeOn Group for comment.
The KSA has sanctioned a number of operators in recent weeks with Unibet, Leo Vegas and JOI Gaming all facing fines in December alone.