The chairman of the KSA attacks the new Dutch government’s proposal to ban all gambling advertisements, highlighting the risks to the legal market and the increase in online illegality.
The chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the gambling regulatory authority in the Netherlands, Michel Groothuizen, expresses strong reservations about the new government’s recent proposals to introduce a total ban on gambling advertising.
According to Groothuizen, leader of the KSA, such a drastic measure would risk damaging the legal market and favoring the expansion of illegal online gambling. Groothuizen notes that, out of over 60,000 advertisements aimed at Dutch consumers each month, fewer than 2,000 came from regularly licensed operators.
Why the KSA opposes a total ban
The chairman of the authority highlights several critical points regarding the proposal contained in the coalition agreement: an absolute ban would primarily affect legal advertisements, while illegal ones would continue to proliferate, especially on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Without effective legal advertising, players could be pushed toward unregulated operators, with greater risks related to safety and consumer protection. Groothuizen nevertheless states his willingness to collaborate with the new executive, while reiterating that the goals of player protection and combating illegality must be pursued in an effective and realistic manner.
Regulatory context in Europe
The issue of gambling advertising in the Netherlands is part of a broader framework of stringent regulations. In recent years, the KSA had already intensified controls on promotions, issuing numerous warnings and sanctions for violations of advertising rules, particularly to protect vulnerable groups such as young adults.
