Dutch regulator to investigate ads aimed at minors and young people

The KSA stressed that this sort of advertising, which includes promoting bonus offers to young people, is prohibited, adding that young people are “especially vulnerable” to gambling addiction.

The investigation will see the KSA request information from licensees in the Netherlands pertaining to whether they had sent advertisements to minors and young people. This includes emails, bonus offers, push messages and other forms of communication.

The regulator has also appealed for social media sites to report instances of gambling advertising aimed towards minors and young people on their platforms.

Reports can be made through a form on the KSA’s website.

In October 2021 two Dutch trade bodies – Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders and VAN Kansspelen – published a draft voluntary code of conduct for advertising, to which operators could choose to adhere after the Netherlands’ online gambling market went live earlier in the month.

This code aims to protect groups that may be prone to experiencing gambling harm, including those under the age of 25, by banning TV and radio stations from advertising bonuses, among other provisions.

The measures could be implemented as soon as 1 April.