In April, the Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) filed over 4,600 reports with Meta regarding illegal gambling advertisements.

Special attention is paid to the marketing practices of these gambling companies, which frequently advertise on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, the Ksa monitors the volume of illegal advertisements.

Illegal gambling providers place many advertisements on social media. They use names and logos of well-known Dutch athletes and major brands to enhance their credibility. It is often difficult for consumers to determine whether a gambling provider holds a license.

To protect consumers, the Ksa is therefore making a strong effort to combat online advertising by illegal providers. The Ksa does this, among other things, by making more frequent reports to major media companies.

To tackle illegal providers on social media, the Ksa works closely with various companies and organizations. During a recent meeting of the alliance, current knowledge, trends, and insights were shared. Advertising on social media was a key topic, as these platforms reach a large number of people.

The working group also discussed how companies can protect their trademarks, and a brainstorming session was held regarding what else is needed to tackle illegal providers on social media. The Ksa will use the outcomes of this meeting in the coming period to take even more effective action.

In the Netherlands, online gambling is only permitted with licensed providers. The Ksa’s approach to illegal offerings ranges from imposing fines to disrupting the infrastructure used by illegal providers. The online world, and social media in particular, plays a major role within this infrastructure.