The chairman of the Netherlands’ gambling regulator has stressed that the upcoming ban on untargeted advertising will not be as hard-hitting as perhaps predicted when it first comes into force.
René Jansen told the Gaming in Holland Conference on Thursday, as relayed by Kansspelautoriteit, that the regulator first wants to “monitor how the new rules work out in practice."
He said the KSA’s implementations, which will take effect on July 1, are “unchartered” territory for the regulator, which will have to, “like the industry, find our way in this.”
Jansen instead called on operators to be over-cautious at first while the rules are ironed out, to ensure they do not breach the regulations.
He said operators who are “not sure” whether 95 per cent of the viewers of their online advertising are adults over 24 years of age – as stipulated in the new rules – should “opt not to show the advertising at all,” adding that operators should make advertising “even more” different if they are unsure if their land-based gambling is "sufficiently distinguishing” from online gambling advertising.
“My most important appeal at this point in time: find a way, but don't seek the boundaries,” Jansen concluded.
“Public confidence in the gambling industry is low and fragile. Operators therefore have to show that they are committed to a fair and safe market with player protection as the important standard.”
Jansen also touched on responsible gaming for operators as the KSA draws closer to its summer publication of an investigation into duty of care practices.
“The results of the investigation may very well lead to a tightening of the rules, such as our own KSA policy rules,” he said.
“We may also decide to advise the Minister to tighten regulations.”
However, he urged operators to “use their common sense.”
The KSA’s chairman further revealed in his speech that 92 per cent of Dutch players gamble only with legal operators and that over 41,000 players have signed up to the Cruks self-exclusion register.
