JOI Gaming has become the latest operator to be slapped with a huge fine by the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). The operator, which runs online casino games in the Netherlands via its www.jacks.nl website, received a €400,000 penalty from the KSA for advertising breaches. 

JOI Gaming Advertised to Young Adults

According to the KSA, JOI had sent promotional messages to Dutch customers, including young adults, which is a violation of the country’s prohibition on non-targeted advertising. The operator committed the breach between December 2021 and March 2022.

Under the KOA Act, operators are not allowed to promote their products to young adults as they run a greater risk of gambling addiction. Enforcing that ban is a key priority for the KSA. 

More Advertising Restrictions on the Way

KSA Chairman René Jansen reiterated that conducting recruitment activities targeted at young adults is considered a “serious and culpable” violation. He said the KSA has been emphasizing this to licensed operators since December 2021, shortly after the launch of the country’s regulated online gaming market. 

More advertising restrictions are on the way as part of measures introduced by Justice Minister Franc Weerwind. They include a ban on advertising on television and radio, and in public indoor and outdoor areas. Sports sponsorships would also come to an end by 2025.

More than 84,000 people in the UK registered with GAMSTOP in 2022. It was the highest annual figure recorded by the country’s self-exclusion service since its launch in 2018. Overall, there are now 341,365 Brits who have signed up for GAMSTOP over the past four years. 

Record Increase Could be Driven by Inflation

GAMSTOP allows players to exclude themselves from all online gambling sites for a certain period. The process enables them to reduce their online gambling activity and protect them from gambling harm. 

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer has welcomed the record increase in registrations, which she said is a positive step towards providing support for even more people. Palmer said they cannot single out one factor for the rise in numbers but the ongoing inflation and present economic situation could be one of the main reasons why more and more people have decided to use the service.

Gambling Awareness Campaign Must Continue

While most of those registered with GAMSTOP are men, the self-exclusion service saw a record increase in the number of women signing up in August 2022, with female users making up 34% of the new registrations recorded during the month. 

Palmer said that while the rise in registrations is seen as good news, the figures also show that more and more people in the UK are experiencing gambling problems, which emphasizes the need to continue to raise awareness about the issue. 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has asked the government for more powers to regulate gambling ads after complaints nearly doubled in the 2021-22 financial year. The media regulator said current restrictions are no longer effective in protecting children as their viewing behaviors have changed in recent years.

Gambling Advertising Complaints on the Rise

In the 2021-22 financial year, ACMA received 208 gambling advertising complaints, up from the 120 community concerns or inquiries it recorded in 2020-21. The agency also noted that the number of complaints has increased since 2018, the year when Australia implemented a ban on gambling-related ads on broadcast television during live sports coverage. 

Gambling Ads Making Their Way to Social Media 

According to ACMA, young people are now becoming increasingly exposed to gambling ads being shown on social media networks and streaming platforms, but these sites are not covered by current regulations regarding gambling advertising. This is something the government must take into account as it examines the effectiveness of existing online gambling rules, the regulator said.

The rising number of complaints is an indication that the community is not satisfied with the existing rules, ACMA said, adding that it must be granted more powers to regulate gambling ads on sites like Facebook, YouTube, Google, and Twitch to ensure better protection for children and the vulnerable.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is pushing for a unified standard on markers of harm to be implemented across Europe. The Brussels-based trade association recently submitted a standardization proposal to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), stating that a standardized list of markers of harm will play a vital role in preventing gambling harm throughout Europe. 

“Common-Sense” Proposal Essential in Addressing Problem Gambling

EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer is calling for support for what he describes as a “common sense” proposal, saying it would be essential in helping prevent problem gambling and enhancing player protection. 

To be fully adopted, the proposed markers of harm standard must obtain approval from gambling authorities in Europe and CEN’s national standardization bodies (NSBs). CEN has already opened a ballot to allow NSBs to vote on the proposal until the end of December 2022. 

Proposed Standard will Benefit all Stakeholders

Once approved, gambling academics and researchers, experts in harm prevention, gambling operators, authorities, consumer organizations, and other relevant stakeholders will be directly involved in the development of the standard. The EGBA said “a group of leading academics” has already expressed their support for the proposal through a joint letter. 

The EGBA said it believes that adopting a standardized list of harm indicators would be beneficial for all stakeholders working to combat gambling harm in Europe. 

Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit(KSA) remains committed to preventing problem gambling and will continue to be tough against operators that fail to comply with their duty of care obligations. That’s the key message from KSA Chair René Jansen during his speech at the recently-concluded 2022 Amsterdam Gambling & Awareness Congress.

Licensed Online Operators Increase to 24

Providing an update on the latest developments in the Dutch online gambling market a year after its launch, Jansen said that the number of licensed online operators in the country has doubled to 24 since October 1, 2021. 

The rapid increase in licensees may seem “contradictory” to the KSA’s efforts to prevent problem gambling, but Jansen noted that the law enables them to “exert more influence” on gambling harm prevention by supervising the licensed market.

Player Protection Top Priority for KSA

He emphasized that consumer protection and preventing addiction remain top priorities for the KSA, and that licensees must fully comply with their obligations. Failure to do so could result in tough punishments, Jansen warned.

A massive €400,000 fine imposed by the KSA on Toto Online in November for breaching advertising rules should serve as a warning for other operators. 

In the latter part of his speech, Jansen also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the government and industry stakeholders to combat gambling addiction.