KSA targets One Casino and Bet365 for prohibited youth football betting

• The Dutch regulator finds two operators offered bets on football matches involving players under 21.
• Both licensees cited system registration errors and have implemented corrective measures.
• Violations relate to heightened match-fixing risks associated with younger players.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has addressed licensed operators One Casino and Bet365 after discovering they offered prohibited sports betting on football matches involving players under 21 years of age.

Under-21 betting ban breached

An inspection by the Dutch regulator revealed that both operators provided betting options on a football match in 2025 featuring teams with players under the age of 21. Under the Betting and Gaming Act (Wok), bets on sports events involving participants under 21 are explicitly prohibited due to the increased risk of match-fixing.

The KSA explained that younger players are more easily influenced, making such bets vulnerable to manipulation. The prohibition forms part of broader integrity protection measures designed to safeguard vulnerable sporting competitions from corrupt practices.

Following the discovery, the regulator initiated discussions with both operators to address the violations and determine the causes behind the non-compliant offerings.

System errors identified

The conversation with One Casino revealed that an incorrect system registration had led to a match between teams featuring under-21 football players being classified as an international friendly. The operator cancelled the affected bets, compensated players and announced additional measures to prevent recurrence.

Bet365 similarly offered a betting option on a match between teams featuring under-21 football players due to a registration error. The company described this as a one-time error that has now been fixed. Bet365 has conducted an audit and will implement additional automated systems to prevent future breaches.

The KSA emphasised that these cases clearly demonstrate that operators must continuously maintain their systems and controls and implement appropriate safeguards to prevent violations. The regulator stated that responsibility for the service provided remains solely with the operator at all times.

Updated integrity guidelines

Last December, the KSA published updated guidelines titled “Commitment to Integrity”. With these guidelines, the regulator aims to improve the integrity of sports betting offerings and reduce the risk of match-fixing across the Dutch licensed market.

The framework sets out expectations for operators regarding product design, monitoring systems and compliance processes intended to protect sporting integrity. The under-21 betting prohibition represents a key component of this integrity protection regime.

Implications for operators

The latest enforcement action underscores the KSA’s expectation that licensed operators implement robust technical controls to ensure compliance with product restrictions. System errors, while acknowledged by the regulator, do not absolve operators of responsibility for breaches.

Operators active in the Dutch market must invest in automated safeguards and regular audits to identify potential compliance gaps before prohibited products reach customers. The KSA’s approach suggests that operational failures leading to regulatory violations will continue to attract scrutiny and potential sanctions.

As the regulator strengthens its integrity framework, operators will need to demonstrate proactive compliance management and effective system governance to maintain their licences and avoid enforcement action in an increasingly regulated environment.

Related KSA enforcement actions

The KSA has maintained an active enforcement agenda across multiple compliance areas in recent months. The regulator fined Joi Gaming €400,000 for using role models in advertising, breaching strict marketing rules designed to protect vulnerable groups.

In one of the largest penalties issued to date, the KSA fined Unibet €4 million for failures in player protection, including inadequate responsible gambling controls and deficient customer interaction protocols.

Beyond operator enforcement, the regulator has also warned three social media influencers of potential penalties for promoting gambling products in ways that violate advertising restrictions.

These enforcement efforts come as the KSA grapples with a growing challenge: the illegal gambling market has outpaced the regulated sector for the first time, raising questions about the effectiveness of current regulatory measures and channelisation strategies.

The regulator has also ordered Bet365 to strengthen its affordability checks following concerns about the adequacy of its customer protection measures.