Online casinos operating in the Netherlands have been asked to provide details of commercial sponsorship deals ahead of a national ban being imposed.
According to a Casino Nieuws report, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has approached operators with a request for information. This includes details of when the sponsorship contracts were signed and their duration, as well as what the agreement includes.
While an advertising ban came into effect in 2023, sponsorships are still currently legal. Programme and event sponsorship is allowed until 1 July of this year while sports sponsorship is allowed until 1 July 2025. New contracts may no longer be concluded since 1 July 2023, because the exception only applies to contracts concluded before that date.
The KSA told the operators to provide the information by 29 March 2024. Several people involved confirmed the request to Casino Nieuws.
KSA’s gambling sponsorship request
The report claims that those with sports sponsorships must specify whether the deal is with a team, stadium or other organisation. They must say how the sponsorship is expressed, such as via a shirt sponsorship or stadium display.
With media sponsorship, the regulator asks what type of media it concerns, such as TV or radio. They must also say on how many broadcasts the advertising can be seen.
With event sponsorship, gambling sites must indicate which event is being sponsored, when the event takes plac and what the advertisement looks like.
KSA also asks whether the contract includes options to approach fans or followers with an expression. In addition, the regulator also asks whether agreements have been made in the contract to prevent the targeting of vulnerable groups.
KSA: Some gambling advertising still legal
The Netherlands government implemented a ban on most forms of gambling advertising back in July. The change prohibited advertising through most media channels. This included television, radio and print, while the rules also banned advertising in public places.
However, the laws still allowed targeted advertising in some contexts. This meant ads within on-demand streaming services, social media, through direct mail and online gaming environments were still permitted.