KSA Threatens Sanctions Over Illegal Gambling Activity
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch Gambling Authority, warns Chestoption SRL of fines for operating unlicensed gambling sites in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Gambling...
Kansspelautoriteit warns casino over athlete ad violation
The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has warned Hotel Gaming Services, the company that runs Circus Gran Casino, for breaking advertising rules.
The issue came up after the casino used ice hockey players from a local Limburg team in a promotion at its Maastricht location. In the ad, the players were shown in their team uniforms, playing a game inside the arcade. The company also shared a message congratulating the team for winning a tournament.
Even though it looked like a friendly shoutout, the KSA says it broke the law. Since June 2022, gambling companies in the Netherlands are not allowed to use role models like athletes, celebrities, or influencers in their marketing. The rule is meant to protect young people and others who may be more vulnerable to gambling.
Michel Groothuizen, the chair of the KSA, said:
“Licensed providers in the Netherlands must adhere to all kinds of rules to protect players from gambling addiction. With illegal providers, we often see that no account is taken of the prevention of risky gaming behaviour, for example, by not using age verification, enabling payments with crypto, or a lack of gaming limits. We take tough action against these types of parties because they attract players to illegal offerings, and players are insufficiently protected there.”
The KSA explained that even a casual or simple kind of post with public figures can still count as advertising. Because the hockey players are well-known in the region, their appearance in the promotion was enough to violate the rules.
Hotel Gaming Services hasn’t responded publicly to the warning.
FAQs
Is gambling legal in the Netherlands?
Gambling in the Netherlands is legal and strictly regulated by the Dutch Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit.
What is the legal gambling age in the Netherlands?
The legal gambling age in the Netherlands is 18 years old.
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