Online gaming solutions provider Play’n GO has welcomed the Dutch House of Representatives’ decision not to support a total ban on gambling advertising. The company highlighted the important role advertising plays for players, operators and the government within a regulated market.
The decision followed a motion by SGP MP Diederik van Dijk calling for a complete ban on gambling advertising in the Netherlands. According to Dutch industry news outlet CasinoNieuws, the proposal received support from 64 MPs but fell 12 votes short of the required majority.
At the same time, MPs supported a potential tightening of age requirements for online gambling. The government plans to raise the minimum age to 21 for participation in high-risk gambling in the future, but only after it succeeds in effectively reducing the size of the illegal market. A decision on the proposal to reduce the gambling tax rate to 34.2% was postponed.
Another motion put forward by Van Dijk called for the state to divest its stakes in Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij. However, it failed to secure sufficient support, receiving 48 votes.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives approved a proposal by Mirjam Bikker to examine how the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, could use an open-source model developed by the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
MPs also supported a proposal by Tijs van den Brink to introduce specific warning messages on websites subject to DNS blocking. The notifications are intended to warn users about the dangers and risks associated with illegal gambling.
Play’n GO response
Play’n GO welcomed the Dutch authorities’ decision not to introduce a total ban on gambling advertising, highlighting its role in protecting players, supporting the development of the regulated market and generating tax revenue for the government.
Shawn Fluharty, Head of Government Affairs for Play’n GO, commented: “Regulated markets only work when consumers can clearly identify regulated operators. If the ability to advertise rests solely with businesses that do not hold a licence and have no obligation to play by the rules, players will inevitably be drawn away from the regulated market.
“Licensed operators should be held to high standards, but they must also be given the tools to compete with the unlicensed sector. Otherwise, channelisation rates fall, consumer protections weaken and tax revenues decline. The goal should be a well-regulated market that attracts players into the system, not one that unintentionally pushes them outside it.”
VNLOK vs Meta
The potential ban on gambling advertising was also discussed during a panel session focused on the Dutch market at this week’s SBC Summit in Lisbon. The speakers included Eric Olders, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group; Cristiano Blanco, CEO of Hard Rock Casino NL; Björn Fuchs, Chair of VNLOK; and Justin Franssen, Partner at Franssen Tolboom Attorneys at Law. The discussion was moderated by Frank op de Woerd, CEO and Founder of CasinoNieuws.
Meanwhile, VNLOK continues to push Meta to take more effective action against illegal gambling advertising on its platforms. The association has filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the company of the “large-scale dissemination of illegal gambling advertisements via Facebook and Instagram”.
The lawsuit follows a complaint filed by the Dutch gambling trade association with the European Commission in June, in which VNLOK raised concerns over illegal gambling advertisements appearing on Meta’s platforms.
VNLOK is asking the court to rule that Meta is “not complying with its obligations under the European Digital Services Act (DSA)” and to order the company to “take measures to more effectively prevent illegal gambling advertisements targeting Dutch consumers”.
The association stressed that the lawsuit is “not directed against social media as such, but against the facilitation of illegal offerings”.
Fuchs said: “We have repeatedly pointed out the scale of the problem to Meta and asked them to cooperate structurally in finding a solution. That has yielded insufficient results. Therefore, we are now submitting the case to the Dutch courts.
“At the same time, we see that the House of Representatives is also explicitly putting the responsibility of platforms on the agenda. That is an important signal. Illegal gambling providers can only reach Dutch consumers by using the infrastructure of large online platforms.”
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