Dutch gambling regulator teams up with Roda JC Kerkrade for awareness-raising campaign
Roda JC players will wear special shirts in a match tonight as part of a collaboration with the KSA.
The Netherlands.- Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit has announced the launch of a campaign with Eerste Divisie football club Roda JC Kerkrade. During this evening’s Roda JC vs ADO Den Haag match at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Roda will wear special “minus numbers” on their shirts.
The move marks the start of a campaign that the KSA says is intended to raise awareness of the “invisible price” of betting winnings and to “draw attention to the fact that young people are increasingly finding it normal to participate in sports betting”.
“Sports bets are becoming increasingly visible: on social media, in groups of friends, and within (amateur) football teams,” the KSA said. “For many, it seems like a normal occurrence.”
The regulator and Roda JC Kerkrade jointly commissioned research into how young football fans engage with sports betting. The results showed that betting on sports events feels normal to many young people.
Some 35 per cent of young adults in the Netherlands were found to consider betting on sports events normal. Among young male football fans, that figure reached 50 per cent. Among young adult Roda JC supporters, 55 per cent considered sports betting normal.
The study also found that four out of 10 people start betting on sports matches before they turn 18. Many young people believe their football knowledge increases their chances of winning, and they expect to win more often than to lose.
Someone who gambles online loses an average of €118 per month, the KSA warned, but it said the survey found that one in four young people doesn’t talk about losing because they’re embarrassed.
These findings form the basis for a joint campaign under the slogan “What do your winnings cost?”. The aim is to highlight that winning and losing are intertwined, the regulator said.
It added: “The goal isn’t to ban anything or pass judgment, but to raise awareness and spark conversation. It’s about tension, control, and the less pleasant moments that are often overlooked.”
Jordens Peters, general manager of Roda JC: “Football is about winning and losing. But we’re seeing that sports betting is becoming increasingly important, especially among young people. Precisely because football is so important to them, we as a club feel a responsibility to bring this topic up for discussion.”
In addition to the campaign, an educational programme is being launched in the Parkstad region at amateur football clubs interested in participating. Together with local clubs, young people will be talked to about sports betting, why it seems so normal and how to manage risks responsibly.
The Netherlands banned gambling sponsorship in sports in July 2025. The KSA recently highlighted examples of good compliance and minor breaches of the sponsorship ban.
Meanwhile, the Dutch government has proposed a complete ban on gambling ads, and the KSA has asked operators to remove social “share your bet” features from their sites and apps.
