Nederlandse Loterij takes largest illegal gambling site to court

Summary

Nederlandse Loterij has launched civil proceedings against the operators and directors behind Qbet — currently described as the largest illegal gambling site accessible to Dutch players. The companies behind Qbet are based in Curaçao and Costa Rica. The operator Novatech, which runs Qbet and 55Bet, was recently fined more than €24 million by the Dutch Gaming Authority. Nederlandse Loterij says it is suing not only the front-line offender but also the firms and individuals who facilitate the operation, aiming to close the site and protect players from unregulated practices.

Key Points

Nederlandse Loterij has filed a lawsuit targeting the operators and directors behind Qbet, calling it the largest illegal gambling site in the Netherlands.
The companies operating Qbet are registered in Curaçao and Costa Rica; Nederlandse Loterij wants the site closed to protect players.
The Dutch Gaming Authority fined Novatech (operator of Qbet and 55Bet) more than €24 million last month.
Nederlandse Loterij highlights risks on illegal sites: no age checks, no playing limits, irresponsible bonuses and misleading payment methods.
About 200,000 Dutch people are estimated to gamble on illegal sites, according to the statement from Nederlandse Loterij.
This is the lottery operator’s second legal action against illegal operators after it summoned Lalabet in March 2025; the first hearing in the Qbet case was scheduled at the District Court of The Hague in early April.
The civil case seeks to hold operators, trust offices, letterbox companies and directors liable, complementing regulatory fines.

Context and relevance

The action forms part of a broader push in Europe to clamp down on cross-border, unregulated gambling that undermines consumer protection and tax revenues. Nederlandse Loterij’s move shows private operators are willing to pursue civil remedies alongside administrative enforcement by regulators. For regulators, banks, payment processors and compliance teams, these cases highlight growing legal and reputational risk from facilitating or turning a blind eye to illegal operators.

Why should I read this?

Short and sharp: if you work in Dutch gambling, payments, compliance or regulation, this matters. It signals tougher enforcement, bigger fines and civil lawsuits aimed at the whole network that props up illegal sites—not just the brand names. Saves you from having to dig through the court filings yourself.