Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) continues its crackdown on illegal online gambling sites in the country, placing a particular focus on illegal advertising. In its latest update regarding the activities of unlicensed operators offering online games of chance to Dutch customers, the KSA revealed that it is currently investigating multiple websites that hosted advertisements for illegal online casinos.
Eight Websites Under KSA Investigation
The probe is being carried out on eight websites that are attracting the highest traffic in the Netherlands, four of which were already found to have committed a violation that would be subject to enforcement action, the KSA stated.
Apart from promoting their services on popular websites, illegal operators also advertise on social media. From January to June 2023, the KSA launched 32 investigations into illicit offers on social media networks, including Facebook and Instagram. The pages and accounts in question were immediately reported to parent firm Meta and have since been terminated by the company.
Dutch Govt. Keeps Close Watch on Gambling Advertising
The Dutch government has been closely monitoring the advertising and marketing activities of operators as it aims to strengthen protections for vulnerable people, especially children and minors. In line with this, the country introduced a ban on untargeted advertising which took effect on July 1.