Dutch Gambling Authority launches new clampdown on affiliates

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has begun a new round of regulatory investigations into the affiliate sector ahead of the launch of the country’s regulated market in October. In a statement, the KSA said it would prohibit affiliates looking to target the Dutch market in partnership with unlicensed operators. “Now that the opening of the legal online gambling market is imminent, the KSA is becoming alert to illegal providers and advertisers who want to make a quick move into the Dutch market,” the KSA said. It is understood the KSA will examine affiliate sites based on the so-called prioritisation criteria, which determine gambling operator illegality by assessing a number of standards. Current prioritisation criteria include the use of a .nl domain name, Dutch facing symbols such as tulips and windmills and the use of the Dutch language on websites. A fourth criteria covering use of the iDEAL payment method was added in 2019, with the KSA adding the need for “functional age verification software” to its prioritisation criteria in January 2020. In a previous slew of investigations, the KSA looked at 44 affiliate websites and imposed sanctions against the partnering operators for illegally operating in the Dutch market. In March 2020, the KSA slammed illegal operators and affiliates for using the coronavirus crisis to mop up land-based casino customers. One marketing ploy identified by the KSA during this period aimed to persuade consumers with a “corona-free” offering, which the regulator described as “completely objectionable”.