Dutch government dismisses potential gambling advertising ban
Minister claims “serious negative effects” on channelisation from any restriction
The Dutch government will not impose a ban on gambling advertising when the country’s egaming market commences operations in January 2021, ministers have said.
In a letter to the Dutch parliament, Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said that channelization to licensed operators “required certain advertising” and that players must be able to find regulated sites.
“It appears that banning or seriously limiting gambling advertising can have serious negative effects on the degree of channelisation,” Dekker wrote.
The Dutch government now aims for the Remote Gaming Act to come into effect on January 1, 2021. This means that the regulated online market will open on July 1, 2021 instead of January 1 as originally anticipated.
Dekker said he had reviewed two separate investigations, undertaken by Regulus Partners and the Institute for Information Law, into the potential for advertising restrictions.
Based on this, Dekker claimed there was “no reason” to ban gambling advertising or take additional measures to restrict marketing.
Voicing his support for current draft regulations on advertising, Dekker said they struck a “good balance” between protecting at-risk groups and channelising players to licensed sites.
Dekker said he would also look to evaluate the so-called “cooling off” period which prevents previously sanctioned operators from applying for a Dutch licence for a two-year period, with a view to providing additional feedback on this in 2020.
Dekker confirmed the government is aiming to commence regulated egaming and sports betting operations by January 2021 and will issue draft regulations in 2020.
Responding to questions surrounding blocking of operators, Dekker outlined the so-called “notice and takedown” procedures which will be used to stop unlicensed operators from targeting Dutch citizens.
Existing procedures used to combat child pornography and discriminatory messaging online would also apply to online gambling sites.
The new Remote Gaming Act allows the KSA to provide legally binding instructions to stop payment providers servicing unlicensed gambling sites. It will also have the power to issue do not serve notices to app stores and online marketers.