The Dutch gambling authority fined companies offering online betting and gambling games in the Netherlands a total of €3.5m this year – more than double the 2018 figure.

The rise is due to an increase in the maximum fine to €200,000 and a rise in the number of large companies being penalised, the Kansspelautoriteit said. In total, 10 firms were fined, including one repeat offender.

Holland Casino is the Netherlands’ only state-regulated gambling establishment but foreign firms widely flout the ban and continue to target Dutch punters by offering Dutch language services and the Dutch online payment service Ideal.

Earlier this year the senate voted to open up the online gambling market to other companies after years of political tussle.

The new law, which will not come into effect until at least 2021, is restrictive and contains a number of element to try to combat addiction. Players have to register and state their limit and will be periodically reminded of the risk of addiction on screen.

The gambling firms will also have to appoint an addition expert and pay gambling taxes of 29%, which is one of the highest in Europe.

However, firms which have broken the law by targeting Dutch players will only be allowed to apply for a licence after a cooling off period. According to website Gambling Compliance, almost all the major European gambling groups have now been fined by the Dutch watchdog.