Dutch Gaming Authority reprimands 2 operators

The ban on using famous personalities and role models to push gambling messages has been strictly observed in the Netherlands, not least by the Dutch Gaming Authority which has been actively involved in ensuring that the rules are upheld.

Yet, two operators have now been warned over a breach of the gambling advertisement rule. The regulator has not named the guilty parties but has offered further details into the nature of the violations. For example, one sports betting website promoted its offer by saying that customers had the chance to win a T-shirt with a well-known footballer from a Dutch Eredivisie club.

Another operator which runs online casino games of chance has used the imagery of a well-known actor to advertise a specific game. Both instances were in violation of the country’s existing prohibition on leveraging famous personalities or those who may influence gamblers under a certain age to gamble.

These rules are not arbitrary. They are the result of careful consideration by the regulator and seek to ensure that vulnerable consumers and age groups who may be more susceptible to reckless gambling are fully protected. Role models cannot be used to promote online casino games of chance and other gambling products that constitute a high risk to the consumer, the law states.

The market in the Netherlands may undergo more changes still. For one, new responsible gambling rules will come into effect this summer, with operators obligated to apply them immediately, although a grace period may still apply.

More notably, though, the government has voted in favor of a proposal that would seek to effectively ban "high-risk online games of chance," which means that there is at least a chance to see an attempt to prohibit online casino slots, and other "high risk" games. This, though, has been dubbed as a "non-event" by industry observers.

The possibility of banning online casino slots completely though is rather bizarre given the nature of the gambling and how offshore operators would in theory gain an upper hand should the Dutch government kill one of the most important legal markets.

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