NOGA and VNLOK launch illegal gambling reporting hotline

The Dutch Online Gambling Association (NOGA) and the union of Licensed Dutch Online Gaming Providers (VNLOK) have launched a hotline where reports can be made on illegal online gambling activity in the Netherlands.

On the domain www.meldvalsspel.nl, alerts for online gambling breaches can be forwarded to VNLOK and NOGA members, other licence holders, partner organisations, as well as other professional stakeholders. 

Reportable offences include the implementation of unsafe gambling practices, lack of player protection measures, higher bonuses than legally allowed, and the targeting of underage consumers. 

The Meld Vals Spel website will serve as the point-of-contact portal that will collect information on the working methods of illegal actors. This will then be used by VNLOK and NOGA to punish illegal operators and raise awareness around the risks of using their services. 

If the reported case calls for it, the member organisations can then forward the report to the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) and ask for assistance from the government.

A joint comment by Helma Lodders, Chairman of VNLOK and Eric Konings, Director of NOGA, read: “Licensed providers of online gambling have the joint responsibility to offer players a legal, safe and responsible offer. This often goes well, but can also be better. This is being worked hard every day. At the same time, many Dutch people still come into contact with illegal gambling sites and apps. 

“These illegal parties actively respond to the increasingly strict Dutch rules by, for example, advertising on search terms such as ‘playing without limit’ or ‘playing without CRUKS’. In doing so, they attract targeted (vulnerable) players. These kinds of illegal practices endanger the safety of players and must be tackled hard.”