The Dutch gambling authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has flagged three operators for breaching the ban on untargeted advertising which came into effect in the country on July 1, 2023. The operators in question avoided enforcement action as they immediately terminated their marketing activity after being warned by the KSA.
Under the ban, Dutch licensed operators are not allowed to advertise on most media channels as well as in public spaces. According to the KSA, one operator violated the rules by running a contest in which the prize was a t-shirt bearing its name and logo.
The KSA also found issues in the sponsor communications of two operators, with marketing found to be going further than just a neutral statement. The KSA explained that while gambling sponsorships of sports and TV/radio programmes are still allowed, licensees must follow strict rules, including using a neutral statement that does not include elements by which the gambling provider can be recognized, including its logo or brand name.
Flagged Offenders Heed KSA’s Warning
Other violations identified by the KSA include running an advertisement during a sports match that promoted an operator’s app, and using a slogan that could be heard during programme sponsorship.
The KSA confirmed that the three operators have discontinued such activities following intervention by the agency.