A study conducted by XY Legal Solutions and Licensed Dutch Online Gambling Providers (VNLOK) has revealed that 38 million Dutch users were exposed to illegal gambling ads on...
Netherlands advances iGaming ads & bonuses ban proposal
On June 12, the Dutch government announced that the country is planning to implement a complete ban on online gambling advertisements and bonuses.
The Netherlands’ Justice and Security Secretary, Claudia van Bruggen, shared that the measures aim to address the increase in gambling participation and the subsequent rise in gambling addiction since the legalization of online betting in 2021.
Van Bruggen commented:
“I find it particularly concerning that more and more people, and especially young people, have started gambling online and are getting into trouble as a result. It is high time to reverse this trend. With the proposed measures, I am taking an important step to better protect people against the negative effects of gambling, such as addiction and debt. Special attention is being paid to young people and young adults because they are particularly vulnerable to the risks of gambling.”
In addition to the ads and bonuses ban, the government is also looking to add new affordability measures and review deposit limit rules. Lawmakers have suggested introducing tests to assess financial capacity for players wishing to increase their deposit limits. In order to get approval, users will have to show appropriate financial flows, while authorities will investigate the person’s payment arrears and financial situation to decide on allowing a limit raise.
One of the strictest points of the proposal is the blocking of illegal gambling websites, which could potentially cover hosting companies and payment providers.
Currently, Secretary van Bruggen is in the process of drafting a bill to present it for deliberation.
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