Despite issuing warning to operators ahead of World Cup, KSA intervenes to stop three violations
The iGaming and online gambling regulator of the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has reported that it found breaches of rules and regulations in the buildup to the World Cup and, as a result, “held accountable” the unnamed operators who were found to be in breach.
The Dutch gambling authority has been particularly trying to protect the reputation of the gambling industry with the larger public during the World Cup. ©Homer Lopez/Unsplash
At the start of the month, the regulator had warned all operators to reduce and moderate the frequency of ads promoting their services, as well as clamping down on the use of role models in advertising. They had also all but banned proposition bets, or prop bets as they’re called, as such markets are prone to match fixing. Earlier this week, KSA announced that a couple of gambling operators were found offering these types of bets, for instance a market on the number of yellow cards, to their players. These bets are not legitimized under the rules and regulations of the Dutch regulator. This was one of the three instances where the KSA had to intervene and warn two operators to cease all activity revolving around unlawful wagers.
The second instance was when another KSA code was violated by an operator after they used role models or celebrities to promote their platform and its services. The KSA guidelines clearly state that no role models are to be used to promote an operator or its services. According to the Dutch regulator, famous Dutch personalities were found to be donning a particular operator’s logo at an event organized by the same entity. After pictures from the event started circulating almost two weeks ago, the operator was asked to take them down and not violate the guidelines again.
The third and final intervention came when the KSA noticed an unlicensed operator providing gambling services in the Netherlands while promising a lottery prize worth €2.5 million. The Dutch regulator immediately acted on it and dished out an ultimatum reiterating the fact that the guidelines do not permit unlicensed gambling operators to offer their services to the people of the Netherlands.
KSA taking gambling image in Netherlands seriously
The KSA did not reveal the identity of any operator that violated the guidelines. After all interventions, the violations are no longer in play as all operators are firmly sticking to the code that has been put in place. The KSA has constantly been reiterating its guidelines, especially because of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Weeks before the tournament’s first kick-off, the KSA once again asked all operators to moderate their advertising and ensure they follow the set code.
The Chairman of the KSA reached out to the operators requesting them not to unleash a barrage of gambling ads that could annoy what he said was a skeptical public.
“The image of the gambling sector and individual gambling companies is not very good. The bombardment of advertising after the opening of the legal market did not help. I hope that lesson has been learned. The aim of legalizing online gambling was to create a safe environment for people who want to participate in online gambling. Some form of advertising is necessary to draw attention to the legal offer. But gambling companies must realize that a new tidal wave of advertising is counterproductive.”
The KSA’s campaign for vulnerable audiences
The World Cup and, with it, the gambling ads for it are up and running. Despite being in moderation, these ads are still out there and could easily entice vulnerable individuals and lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Young audiences are the ones that could be most susceptible. In an effort to prevent that, the KSA has kickstarted a campaign that educates people between the ages of 18 and 25 about gambling and the risks revolving around it.
Youngsters can access loketkansspel.nl and take tests that throw light on all the risks involved in gambling. In addition to that, it also asks participants a few questions that must be answered to identify and understand the traits of individuals that could lead them to safe or harmful gambling in the future.
