Dutch regulator raps Circus Gran Casino over role model violation
KSA revealed this week it was made aware of Circus Gran Casino using role models to advertise its venues. The operator used professional athletes from a Limburg ice hockey team to promote its local branch in Maastricht.
The advertisement in question features the athletes in uniform playing on a machine inside the arcade. In addition, the promotion included a congratulatory message for the team on winning a tournament.
KSA began enforcing a ban on the use of role models in advertising in June 2022. Regulations define a role model as a person who has achieved fame, such as a model, influencer or football player.
As the individuals featured in the advert were professional athletes, KSA deemed them to be role models. As such, Circus Gran Casino was ruled to have breached the ban.
KSA warns other operators over role model use
Responding to the charge, Circus Gran Casino said the rules on the use of role models was not “sufficiently” clear. It said it was uncertain which forms of gambling are covered by the rules.
However, KSA said as gaming arcades offer risky games of chance, the ban applies in full. As such, Circus Gran Casino was in breach of regulations.
“It is important that all gaming arcades are aware of this,” KSA says. “The gaming arcade cooperated during the conversation and immediately removed the statements in question following the conversation.
“We will check whether the statements continue to comply with the role model ban in the future.”
Circus Gran Casino is not the first operator to fall foul of the rule. In January, KSA revealed it issued warnings to a group of operators for breaching gambling advertising rules, including targeting young people.
In total, four warnings were sent for not abiding by the ban. Several operators advertised betting on Formula 1 motor racing events, with some ads referencing Dutch F1 driver Max Verstappen.
The operators did not use an image of Verstappen but made certain hints regarding the driver for the purpose of the adverts. This included puns and certain visual elements.