SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Director of NOGA – The Netherlands Online Gambling Association – has criticised the recent draft online gambling advertising code as was suggested by incumbent land-based operators.
Issuing a response to news coverage on Dutch public broadcaster NOS, De Goeij said the draft self-regulating code will not provide Dutch consumers with enough protection against an impending gambling advertising avalanche.
NOGA noted that the suggested TV broadcast restrictions, limiting licensed online gambling operators to three adverts per commercial slot – was not binding to the Dutch-licensed lottery and land-based operators. NOGA cited that by restricting the rules only to advertising for online gambling would also create an unfair advantage for land-based operators that intend to also go online.
“This code does not go far enough. The limit of three gambling advertisements per block applies only to internet gambling advertisements. So, in addition to three advertisements for online gambling, Holland Casino, Gaston and Koning TOTO will be allowed to advertise their offline offerings without any restrictions,” de Goeij remarked.
In its response, NOGA has called for KOA remote operators and traditional land-based incumbents to agree on a workable solution to avoid the saturation of gambling advertising infringing on Dutch audiences.
KSA chairman René Jansen had previously warned KOA operators of their duties in respecting the Dutch advertising code, in which KSA will carry out its assessment of advertising conduct as part of its first-stage evaluation of the KOA regime’s adoption, implementation and proceedings.
The launch of the KOA regime will see land-based and remote operators observe a Games of Chance watershed advertising restriction on TV broadcasts between 6 am and 7 pm.
KSA has placed several restrictions on incentivising customers, in which bonuses cannot be used as promotional offers and campaign content cannot feature endorsements by athletes or celebrities.
The KOA regime will implement the highest standards on database management, where incumbents are expected to track all player advertising engagements and cannot use data to re-target or incentivise players to wager more on platforms and products.
“We support the code, but with the important addition that that cross-sector agreement of advertising volume control, is absolutely necessary and I would like to invite all colleagues, the media parties and the broadcasters – to get around the table in a coalition of the willing, to jointly prevent a gambling advertising avalanche.” de Goeij commented on the draft online gambling advertising code.
