The Kansspelautoriteit (Dutch Gambling Authority) has contacted three licensed operators—TonyBet, BetCity, and Kansino—after identifying marketing incidents. These incidents breached the Netherlands’ strict online gambling advertising rules.
According to the regulator, the cases involved promotional exposure to young adults and gambling advertisements appearing in restricted digital environments. In each instance, the operators detected the issue internally and reported it to the authority before implementing corrective actions.
Promotions Reached Restricted Age Group
Authorities flagged two operators, TonyBet and BetCity, after marketing messages reached players aged between 18 and 24. Dutch regulations prohibit licensed gambling operators from targeting young adults with promotional advertising due to their increased vulnerability to gambling-related harm.
TonyBet explained that a technical classification error within its marketing system caused the issue. As a result, users in the restricted age bracket were mistakenly included in an email promotional campaign.
BetCity encountered a similar compliance issue after it sent a promotional notification through its platform interface. Although the restricted age group could not activate the promotion, those users could still see the notification. The regulator determined that the exposure alone constituted a breach of the country’s advertising rules.
Following the incidents, both operators strengthened internal monitoring systems. They also updated their verification procedures to ensure restricted audiences are excluded from marketing campaigns.
Kansino Removes Ads From Mobile Games
Meanwhile, the regulator contacted Kansino after its gambling advertisements appeared within mobile video games. Dutch regulations prohibit gambling promotions inside non-gambling gaming apps to prevent exposure to minors and other vulnerable audiences.
Kansino identified the issue through internal monitoring and reported it to the regulator. The company then removed the advertisements from the affected applications.
The operator also introduced stricter advertising oversight and monitoring measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Regulator Reinforces Advertising Compliance
The Kansspelautoriteit emphasized that licensed operators remain responsible for all marketing activity. This includes campaigns managed through automated systems or third-party advertising platforms.
The regulator stated that ongoing supervision of advertising distribution remains a critical requirement within the Netherlands’ regulated gambling market. This is particularly important to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups.
