The Dutch government has confirmed its ban on untargeted gambling advertising will begin on July 1.
Radio and television stations, as well as street billboards, will be prohibited from housing gambling promotions.
Sponsorship for online games of chance, for example from TV programmes or sports clubs, will also fall under the remit after a transitional period.
Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind said that while some gambling advertising is “necessary," especially for broadcasting safe and legal routes, the government is aiming to protect “vulnerable groups” with the ban.
“With this ban, vulnerable groups, especially young people, come into less contact with these advertisements and we limit the temptation to engage in high-risk games of chance,” Weerwind added.
Advertising via the internet, social media, email and on-demand television will be allowed, but providers must actively prevent promotions reaching people under the age of 24 or vulnerable groups.
The Dutch government also requires proof that at least 95 per cent of the advertising reaches people aged 24 or over.
And where gambling advertising is shown on these platforms, consumers must be given a choice to opt-out from seeing future such advertisements.
The Dutch government also revealed that the effectiveness of the new regulations will be reviewed in 2024.
