SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has cracked down on illegal gambling apps within mobile app stores.
A total of 20 unlicensed gambling apps have been taken down since the start of the year, with the KSA urging customers to keep reporting anything which may seem suspicious.
The increasing number of apps redirecting users to illegal gambling websites has been described as a problem requiring ‘urgent attention’ due to not only being used by adults, but often reaching minors too. A lot of them have been found to be advertised on social media as well.
Another “sneaky” tactic, as the KSA describes the marketing efforts of these illegal applications, is the use of an actual licensed provider’s logo to trick customers into a false sense of security.
One such case recently reported to the regulator included the use of Holland Casino’s logo. The state-owned operator has a legal monopoly over land-based gambling in the Netherlands, but once the app referred to the KSA was downloaded, it redirected to illegal gambling websites.
“It is very important for the KSA that consumers continue to report these types of apps, so that this process [banning] can continue throughout the year,” the regulator said. “When reporting advertising for gambling games, it is essential that the name of the relevant app advertised is mentioned in the notification.”
Besides consumers, the KSA is also cooperating with industry associations and organisations, such as Meld Vals Spel – a platform specifically set up by Dutch industry shareholders to monitor and report instances of illegal gambling offerings.
In addition, the regulator is also in direct communication with the relevant parent companies of the most used app stores.
As part of a wider gambling reforms process, the KSA has taken an increasingly tougher stance against illegal gambling advertising targeting Dutch consumers.
Some of these wider-reaching efforts to eradicate illegal marketing recently saw the regulator contact the editors of a number of Dutch online media outlets after finding out that such adverts have been appearing on these websites.
