Netherlands warns local operators

Dutch gambling operators with potential child-oriented contend have been warned by the country’s gambling authority.

Netherlands.- Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, has issued warnings to several local gambling operators for targetting children on their websites. The regulatory body issued cease and desist letters for each and every one of the companies with child-oriented content, including Holland Casino, Bankgiroloterij, Nationale Postcode Loterij, and Staatsloterij (Dutch Lottery).

Dutch advertising law forbids gambling operators from addressing minors through their websites’ advertisements and must stop on command by the Kansspelautoriteit or face fines of up to US$116k. Operators are also banned from using typical national symbols such as tulips or windmills to target platers.

Catena Media and Betsson had already received similar cease and desist letters earlier this year as the Dutch regulator attempts to enforce the advertising law. The Kansspelautoriteit had also eyed social casino games as it believes they could trigger problem gambling in the country, and is proving to be hard to deal with.

In addition to tougher regulations, the temporary gambling tax raise of 1.1 per cent coming into effect in 2018 is driving operators out of the Netherlands in order to escape such asphyxiating control.