The Dutch gambling regulatory authority has arrested five people across eleven locations suspected of being involved in an illegal gambling operation that allowed people to place bets on sports with overseas operators via modified computers with an internet connection. ‘The five are suspected of involvement in the organisation of illegal gambling’, read a statement from the Kansspelautoriteit, which regulates gambling in The Netherlands. ‘They are also suspected of involvement in a criminal organisation and money laundering. Also found in a locker were laptops and computers, which were confiscated.’

Online gambling is prohibited in the Netherlands, however a Bill to regulate online gambling was approved by the Dutch Parliament in 2016 and is expected to be implemented next year. In December 2016, the Kansspelautoriteit recommended that gambling operators should block any bets received from a Dutch IP address, otherwise they would face enforcement action.