Netherlands Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker wants to clarify how iGaming operators in the country plan to avoid excessive advertising.
According to iGamingBusiness.com, Dekker has said, “Advertising is fine, but don’t go too far.” But that definition didn’t satisfy the opposition Socialist Party, which pressed the minister for precise guidelines.
Dekker responded that the Netherlands Gaming Act has laid out a number of rules for ads, requiring operators to ensure that promotions are fair and balanced, provide specific information about the products advertised and include language about responsible gambling.
Ads also must avoid creating unrealistic expectations for winning, remind players of the risks of excessive play, and refrain from targeting minors or people who show signs of developing gambling addictions.
Once the market opens, Dekker declared, gaming regulator the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) will be on the lookout for ads for illegal operators and misleading ads.
Illegal advertising accounted for 0.74 percent of all advertising in the Netherlands in 2019, up from 0.2 percent in 2017, Dekker pointed out. This showed that unlicensed operators are wary of advertising and avoid advertising on the 300 most popular websites in the country, he said.
