The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has issued a warning to bloggers and media personalities after previously fining three influencers found promoting unlicensed gambling operators to young audiences.
Bloggers Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt used YouTube and Instagram to showcase their own play with illegal providers and encouraged followers to do the same.
These measures reflect the regulator’s tougher stance following reforms to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), which explicitly prohibits influencers and other media figures from participating in gambling campaigns or promotions.
In addition, any digital advertising must be strictly targeted at audiences aged 24 and older, as part of efforts to protect young and vulnerable consumers. The KSA Board of Directors outlined the violations in detail:
- StiefunSpeelt (YouTube) was found guilty of promoting and directly participating in unlicensed gambling, breaching Articles 1(b) and 1(c) of the Gambling Act. He was ordered to cease all activity, with periodic penalty payments to follow if violations continue.
- Turcos (Instagram “locos_turcos” and YouTube “LocosTurcos”) posted direct links to illegal gambling sites, breaching Article 1(b). KSA ordered the removal of all content and banned further promotions.
- Buurtwachtt received similar sanctions for advertising illegal providers on social media – with mandatory content removal and financial penalties.
Each individual was ordered to delete all existing gambling-related content within 48 hours. Breaches will incur fines of €25,000 per violation, capped at €75,000 per person.
KSA stated that its enforcement department will intensify monitoring of influencer accounts on social media, warning that repeat and new violations will be met with a “swift and firm” response. If influencers fail to comply, the regulator plans to work directly with social media platforms and tech companies to remove illegal content.
“Young people must be protected from exposure to illegal gambling advertising. We will continue to monitor influencers closely and act decisively against violators,” the authority said in a statement.
The fines are part of KSA’s broader campaign to restrict gambling advertising and promotions, aimed at strengthening trust in the licensed market and reducing the influence of the illegal sector.
Cases of Dutch bloggers promoting illegal operators are likely to fuel concern amid the upcoming reform of the Remote Gambling Act, which may accelerate before the general election in the Netherlands.
Acting Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken has already expressed dissatisfaction with the current framework, stressing the need for special protections for Dutch consumers under the age of 24 – the group most vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
Parliament continues to receive proposals from political parties to amend gambling legislation. As work progresses, discussions will cover youth protections, operator duties of care, and stricter controls on high-risk games.
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