KSA Issues Warnings to Dutch Operators
The KSA has issued warnings to operators following a breach in gambling ad regulation. The company found that three operators had been advertising gambling products on a Donald Duck themed YouTube page.
Operators Need to be More Vigilant
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is the gambling regulator for the Netherlands. The authority has said that operators need to be more vigilant. It has warned operators that they need to be more careful when it comes to advertising to minors and on platforms aimed at children and young people. This comes after there has been some backlash from both the Dutch parliament and the public.
The Dutch Gaming Act only came into action towards the end of 2021, and as such, the country is going through what could be described as a teething phase when it comes to regulations. There are currently only 12 operators that have been given a license. The fact that at least three operators have been involved with bad advertising practices will have no doubt raised some eyebrows.
Pressure from Parliament
These findings could not have come at a worse time for the KSA. The authority is facing pressure from parliament to up its game when it comes to gambling advertising. Franc Weerwind, an important minister, said that there has been an excess of online advertising since the Gaming Act came into law. They called for a ban on untargeted gambling advertising.
Weerwind has said that they believe some advertising is necessary for the industry. However, they are looking into legal options to enforce a blanket ban on untargeted ads. Currently, the country does not allow any gambling advertisements to be shown in the country anyway before 9 pm. There is also a requirement for adverts to contain a warning if they are being targeted at those under 25.
Three Operators Breaching Rules
The recent sweep in question found three licensed operators were advertising their products on a Donald Duck themed YouTube channel. The target audience for this channel is teenagers. There were also advertisements televised during a TV show called Marble Mania which is a family favorite in the country.
The KSA has said that it has told all operators that they must show that they have made changes in their approach to advertising. There were also warnings issued for seven other licensees who had made minor offences.
The organisation said that it watches closely over advertising within the industry and that it is willing to take action when it is needed. It said that it would not rule out fines in the future.
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