Nederlandse Loterij Sues Skyhills Over Dutch Players

Nederlandse Loterij has launched legal proceedings against Skyhills, an unlicensed gambling website that it alleges has targeted players in the Netherlands.

The Dutch lottery organisation announced that it has summoned the individuals and companies operating the platform, seeking an order requiring them to stop offering gambling services to Dutch players. It is also demanding information about the business structure behind the website.

People connected with Skyhills are located in several jurisdictions, including Costa Rica, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom, Curaçao, Malta and the Marshall Islands. At the time of the announcement, the Skyhills website was no longer accessible from the Netherlands.

Arjan Blok, CEO of Nederlandse Loterij, said player protection remained the organisation's main priority.

He said the company wanted people to be able to take part in games of chance safely and responsibly.

Blok accused Skyhills of using misleading advertising, including promotions on TikTok, to specifically reach Dutch consumers and younger audiences. He said players could gamble on the platform without the protections available through regulated services.

According to Blok, the website becoming unavailable in the Netherlands following the organisation's initial action was a positive development.

Third Unlicensed Operator Targeted in a Year

Skyhills is the third alleged illegal gambling platform to face legal action from Nederlandse Loterij over the past year.

The organisation had previously brought cases against Lalabet and Qbet. Proceedings involving Qbet are expected to begin towards the end of 2026.

In June, a court ruling in the Lalabet case largely supported Nederlandse Loterij's position. The court found that the platform's operators and directors had acted unlawfully and were liable for their activities.

They were ordered to stop targeting Dutch players and provide information about the company's corporate structure, including details relating to shareholders and ownership.

The ruling also stated that trust directors and local representatives involved in facilitating illegal gambling operations could potentially be held liable.

However, the court did not find that Curaçao trust office DECC and its directors had acted unlawfully. The judges said there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that they knew they were providing services to an operator running an illegal gambling platform targeting the Netherlands.

Nederlandse Loterij has said it intends to appeal that part of the decision. The organisation argues that trust offices should investigate their clients and has referred to research concerning DECC's involvement with both Qbet and Skyhills.

Dutch Gambling Market Faces Key Parliamentary Debate

The Dutch House of Representatives is scheduled to debate games of chance on Thursday, with gambling policy expected to be a central issue.

Ahead of the debate, Nederlandse Loterij expressed support for several proposals put forward by the State Secretary for Justice and Security. In particular, the organisation supports plans to give the Gaming Authority additional powers to act against illegal gambling operators.

However, Blok said that waiting for legislative changes alone would not be sufficient, as changes to gambling laws can take years.

He argued that authorities should take stronger action against illegal gambling websites now, including possible criminal prosecution by the Public Prosecution Service.

Blok also said that banks, payment providers and hosting companies have responsibilities in tackling platforms where players do not receive adequate protection.

Advertising Restrictions Remain Part of the Debate

Advertising rules are also expected to form part of the parliamentary discussion.

Nederlandse Loterij has warned against imposing a complete advertising ban on licensed online gambling providers. The organisation argued that advertising rules are already heavily restricted and that further limitations could direct more players towards illegal platforms.

According to Nederlandse Loterij, unlicensed operators account for half of the Dutch gambling market and are responsible for 95% of gambling advertisements. The organisation said these platforms frequently present themselves as legitimate businesses.

It also stated that approximately 200,000 people in the Netherlands are already gambling through illegal services.

Nederlandse Loterij argues that further restricting advertising by licensed operators could increase the reach and influence of unlicensed gambling platforms.