The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has mandated that the hosting provider DigitalOcean cease offering services to illegal gambling affiliate sites, following an investigation conducted last year.
In its inquiry, the KSA focused on Casinozonderregistration.net and Nieuwe-casinos.net. Despite being unable to locate or contact the owners of these affiliate sites, the regulator identified DigitalOcean as their hosting provider. Citing Article 1, paragraph 1(b) of the Dutch Gambling Act, which prohibits the promotion of unlicensed gambling, the KSA asserts that this prohibition extends to the provider as well as the sites themselves.
While DigitalOcean had been previously approached by the KSA, it declined to terminate its services to the identified sites without a court order.
In January, the District Court of Rotterdam granted the KSA authorization to proceed, leading to the issuance of a binding cease and desist order. Failure to comply may result in a financial penalty, though DigitalOcean retains the right to appeal.
