KSA flips the switch on several illegal affiliate marketing operations

The Dutch Gambling Authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has published the findings of its major investigation from last year on affiliate websites advertising unlicensed gambling providers.

According to the release, 14 out of the 33 gambling websites put under surveillance have been found guilty of illegally advertising, including to consumers who have self-excluded with the Netherlands’ CRUKS exclusion register. 

CRUKS is the Central Register of Exclusion of Chance Games, which prohibits Dutch licensed gambling providers from offering their services to players who have signed up for it. 

However, KSA’s investigation – launched after formal complaints – found that four affiliate marketing websites have been paid by the 14 unlicensed online gambling providers to advertise to various target groups, including to individuals protected by CRUKS.

“The website owners seem to be hiding. The KSA has therefore started a follow-up investigation,” the regulator added. 

In addition to the affiliate websites, illegal operators also used advertising space in six online newspapers to promote their services, which is no longer the case after the KSA contacted the publications and ordered them to take down the ads.

The KSA has been taking additional steps to ensure that Dutch customers are served with appropriate security, having recently inked a new partnership with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, strengthening the collaboration between both parties to achieve stricter market control.