Dutch regulator raises concerns over lottery subscription practices
The KSA says it has received complaints from customers who felt they were misled into subscribing to lottery offerings.
The Netherlands.- The Dutch gambling regulator, kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has announced that it has held discussions with several lottery providers regarding how they approach consumers about subscribing. It said it requested the discussions due to a “large number of reports” from consumers indicating that they find advertising practices misleading.
The regulator said that over an extended period, it received various signals from consumers who were approached by lottery marketing campaigns, believing they were receiving a free ticket but later discovered that they had been signed up for a recurring subscription. This was reported to have occurred through telephone recruitment campaigns, promotions in public locations, and door-to-door marketing among other channels.
In some cases, participants believed they were sponsoring a charity or receiving a free gift, without realising they were signing up for a subscription.
Improved communications from lottery operators
In their discussions with the KSA, several lottery providers said they had improved the way they take on subscriptions. Providers said they had taken steps to communicate more clearly about the nature of their subscriptions and to ensure that consumers were well-informed about their obligations.
However, some lotteries still need to complete these steps, the KSA said. The regulator said it was monitoring this and would conduct an inspection in early 2026 to determine whether there has been any real improvement.
It added that the recent interviews form part of a broader investigation into recruitment practices at lotteries operating subscription models. It stressed that gambling companies must communicate clearly and transparently about their offerings.
The KSA said it would continue to monitor compliance and take further action if necessary.
