A mandate has been filed to ban all gambling advertising in the Netherlands, as the Kamer prepares to vote on imposing further safer gambling amendments to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act) this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calls for a sweeping change to the laws of Dutch gambling advertising have been led by Derk Boswijk<\/strong> of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once more, pressure increases on Minister for Legal Protections, Franc Weerwind to revise the amendments of the KOA Act, proceeding with the government\u2019s review of the Netherlands\u2019 online gambling marketplace since its legal inception in October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This February, the Kamer (parliament) will vote on Weerwind\u2019s recommendations to impose a compulsory monthly financial risk check on player accounts that spend over \u20ac350. Weerwind has further endorsed that a \u20ac150 spend limit be applied on the gambling accounts of customers aged under-24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet gambling reformists across Dutch political parties have branded Weerwind\u2019s protections as deficient, stating that KOA needs to be strengthened on the key disciplines of advertising, financial risk checks and customer care duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDA is seen as the biggest challenger of the KOA regime, in which the Party has publicly declared that it seeks bilateral support to \u2018terminate the KOA Act\u2019, which it deems has failed in its \u201cprimary objective to protect Dutch consumers from pathological gambling disorders\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Latest developments, see CDA minister Derk Boswijk call for a \u201ctotal ban on gambling advertsing\u201d a motion signed by Diederik van Dijk (SGP), Nicolien van Vroonhoven (NSC), Michiel van Nispen (SP), and Mirjam Bikker (ChristenUnie).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The KOA regime has undertaken stringent changes to its advertising rules. In July, regulatory reforms backed by Weerwind were introduced to restrict \u201cuntargeted advertising\u201d across TV, radio and print, and in some public spaces like cinemas and cafes. The provisions excluded general online marketing, direct mailing, and social media advertising. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Previous statements by Weerwind also point to a planned phase out of sports gambling sponsorships by 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week, Weerwind was once again put under pressure, this time by the ChristenUnie party (CU), in an attempt to change existing KOA rules that according to the CU are \u2018deficient\u2019 when it comes to player protection from excessive online gambling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposal submitted by the CU, and backed by several parties including the CDA, requested Weerwind to review his previously mandated \u20ac150 spend restriction on players under 24, and to consider a \u2018universal financial loss limit\u2019 instead that would apply to all 27 KOA-licensed operators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Weerwind stands by his recommendations as Legal Minister tasked with overseeing gambling reforms in which the Kamer will stick to its regulatory agenda and vote on upcoming market reforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ministry of Justice supports Weerwind\u2019s approach, whereby reforms to the KOA Act have proceeded following the 22 recommendations by Dutch public health specialists, advocating for the adoption of \u201cgambling limits, advertising curbs, and addiction prevention policies\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the calls for drastic change in the gambling ads framework knocking on Weerwind\u2019s door, Chairman of the Dutch Online Gambling Association (NOGA) Peter-Paul de Goeij warned that this could inadvertently lead to an unjustified smearing of gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is good that the minister clarifies the rules for safe gambling and thus makes the duty of care more concrete,\u201d NOGA\u2019s Chairman stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the same time, we must always be careful that legal gambling is not made too unattractive. We will study the proposal carefully and make suggestions to improve it and thus achieve the desired effects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n