Sweden and Netherlands Gambling Authorities Take Action Against Novatech Over Illegal Online Gambling
Spelinspektionen and Kansspelautoriteit have taken significant enforcement action against Novatech Solutions, highlighting increasing scrutiny of offshore operators involved in illegal online gambling activities targeting regulated markets without national licences. Authorities in both Sweden and the Netherlands concluded that the Curaçao-based company was offering online gambling services to local players without the required regulatory approval.
The decisions demonstrate how European regulators and national gambling authority bodies are strengthening enforcement against operators that attempt to access regulated markets without complying with casino licensing Europe frameworks.
About Novatech Solutions
Novatech Solutions is an online gambling operator based in Curaçao, a jurisdiction commonly used by offshore gaming companies that operate internationally. The company runs a network of casino websites that offer slot-style games and other gambling products to online players.
Among the platforms associated with the operator are qbet.com, mangacasino.com, slotexpress.com, 55bet.com, and 30bet.com. These websites allow users to create accounts, deposit funds through digital payment methods, and participate in casino-style games.
According to investigations by several European gambling authority regulators, some of these platforms were accessible to players in regulated jurisdictions without holding the required licences under national casino licensing Europe rules. This triggered enforcement action aimed at protecting licensed markets and preventing illegal online gambling services from reaching local consumers.
Netherlands Investigation and €24.8 Million Fine
The case against Novatech Solutions first escalated in the Netherlands, where the Kansspelautoriteit investigated the operator’s activities during 2024.
The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit, determined that players in the Netherlands were able to access gambling services through qbet.com and 55bet.com without the company holding a Dutch licence. The regulator has also taken enforcement action against other parts of the illegal gambling ecosystem, including ordering social media influencers to stop promoting unlicensed operators. Investigators confirmed that Dutch users could create accounts, deposit funds using digital wallets and cryptocurrencies, and participate in online slot-style games, as detailed in the regulator’s sanction decision.
Testing conducted by the Kansspelautoriteit showed that the websites were accessible from Dutch IP addresses and lacked effective technical restrictions preventing participation from the Netherlands, as detailed in the regulator’s enforcement decision.
As a result, on 30 October 2024, the Dutch gambling authority issued a penalty order requiring Novatech Solutions to stop offering gambling services to players in the Netherlands, according to the regulator’s official enforcement decision.
Although access to the platforms was temporarily restricted, later checks by regulators found that Dutch players could again reach the websites. This resulted in additional enforcement measures.
In December 2025, the Kansspelautoriteit imposed a €24.846 million fine on Novatech Solutions N.V. for violating the Dutch Wet op de kansspelen, according to the regulator’s official sanction decision. The regulator stated that unlicensed operators involved in illegal online gambling can undermine consumer protection and disrupt regulated markets operating under casino licensing Europe frameworks.
Sweden Issues Immediate Prohibition
Regulatory scrutiny of Novatech Solutions expanded further in March 2026, when Sweden’s gambling regulator, the Spelinspektionen, concluded that the operator was also targeting Swedish consumers without the required licence.
On 11 March 2026, the Swedish gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, issued a decision prohibiting Novatech Solutions from offering gambling services in Sweden, with the order taking immediate effect.
During its investigation, Spelinspektionen identified several websites connected to the operator, including qbet.com, mangacasino.com, slotexpress.com, 55bet.com, and 30bet.com. Authorities found that Swedish players could register accounts and access gambling services through these platforms.
Investigators also observed that the Swedish country code was automatically selected during registration when users accessed the websites from Swedish IP addresses. In addition, the platforms were promoted through Swedish-language websites and content creators on video streaming platforms.
The Spelinspektionen also carried out a covert test purchase on qbet.com as part of its investigation.
Because Novatech Solutions does not hold a Swedish gambling licence, the regulator determined that the operator was operating in violation of the Swedish Gambling Act, which governs casino licensing Europe compliance within Sweden.
Increasing Enforcement Against Offshore Operators
The enforcement actions by the Kansspelautoriteit and Spelinspektionen highlight a broader trend of increasing enforcement against illegal online gambling operators across Europe.
European gambling authority regulators are increasingly targeting offshore operators that provide gambling services without complying with casino licensing Europe rules. Recent enforcement actions, including Sweden’s ban on CGG Entertainment for unlicensed gaming and the prohibition of Yomoly Ltd for targeting Swedish players without a licence, demonstrate how regulators are expanding oversight of offshore gambling activity. Authorities argue that such platforms may bypass consumer protection regulations, facilitate unsafe payment systems, and undermine the regulated gambling ecosystem.
The case involving Novatech Solutions illustrates how regulators are using investigations, financial penalties, and service prohibitions to combat illegal online gambling and strengthen compliance across Europe’s regulated online casino markets.
Source :Spelinspektionen and Kansspelautoriteit
