The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has ordered Costa Rica-based company Virtual Connect S.R.L. to stop offering unlicensed online gambling to Dutch players through the LuckyGem website.

The regulator determined that luckygem.com allowed Dutch consumers to participate in online games of chance without the required Dutch gambling licence.

Under the enforcement order, Virtual Connect faces a conditional penalty of €487,000 per week, up to a maximum of €974,000, if it fails to stop the unauthorized activity. The measure was adopted on July 7, 2026, and published by the KSA on September 15.

KSA Finds LuckyGem Accessible to Dutch Players

The KSA’s investigation found that LuckyGem could be accessed from the Netherlands and that Dutch consumers were not effectively prevented from using the platform.

According to details of the enforcement case reported by Dutch gaming media, a KSA investigator was able to register an account from a Dutch IP address, make a €20 deposit using an ING bank account and play a slot game on the website.

Follow-up checks on February 23, March 13 and June 29, 2026 reportedly produced the same result, with the site remaining accessible to Dutch users.

Under Dutch law, online gambling can only be offered legally to Dutch consumers by operators holding an appropriate licence from the KSA.

Virtual Connect Faces €487,000 Weekly Penalty

The KSA has imposed a last onder dwangsom, or order subject to a penalty, requiring Virtual Connect to stop offering unlicensed gambling.

The financial consequence is €487,000 for each period in which the company fails to comply, with the total capped at €974,000.

This distinction is important: the KSA has not announced an immediate €974,000 fine. The maximum amount represents the potential penalty if Virtual Connect continues violating the order.

According to reporting on the underlying decision, the KSA used an estimate of LuckyGem’s Dutch gambling activity when determining the level of the enforcement measure. The regulator reportedly estimated monthly Dutch GGR at approximately €348,000 based partly on Google search data for LuckyGem.

LuckyGem Had No Dutch Gambling Licence

The KSA’s decision specifically states that Virtual Connect offered games of chance through luckygem.com without a licence under the Dutch Gambling Act.

The regulator’s public sanctions register lists the company alongside other operators that have recently been targeted for offering unauthorized gambling services in the Netherlands.

The Dutch market requires operators to obtain authorization before providing online gambling services to local consumers. Enforcement actions can target operators that remain accessible to Dutch players despite lacking the necessary licence.

Virtual Connect Can Challenge the Decision

The KSA’s published decision states that Virtual Connect S.R.L. has the right to object to the enforcement decision.

The regulator’s public information does not indicate that the full €974,000 maximum penalty has already been incurred or collected.

The case therefore remains an enforcement order requiring the operator to cease the activity, rather than confirmation of an already-paid €974,000 fine.

KSA Continues Crackdown on Unlicensed Gambling

The Virtual Connect case is part of the KSA’s broader enforcement activity against operators offering online gambling to Dutch consumers without authorization.

The regulator’s September 2026 sanctions register also includes enforcement actions involving other unlicensed gambling websites. For example, SkyGrow Group Limitada, operator of Boomerang.bet, was ordered to stop offering unauthorized games of chance earlier in September.

The KSA has also previously taken enforcement action against international operators targeting Dutch players, including cases involving Polymarket and other online gambling brands.

What the LuckyGem Case Means for Dutch Players

The LuckyGem case highlights the importance of checking whether an online gambling operator is licensed to serve Dutch consumers.

A website being available in Dutch or accepting common Dutch payment methods does not mean that the operator is authorized to provide gambling services in the Netherlands.

The KSA’s action against Virtual Connect demonstrates that accessibility to Dutch players can itself become a key focus of regulatory enforcement when an operator does not hold the required licence.

Source: https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/virtual-connect-s-r-l-0