(AsiaGameHub) –   The KSA is also targeting unlicensed operators that misuse the names and logos of prominent Dutch athletes and brands.

The Netherlands.- The Dutch gambling authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), reports it submitted more than 4,600 reports to Meta in April concerning ads for unlicensed gambling. As part of its task force on illegal gambling, the regulator has increased how often it reports to the parent company of Facebook and Instagram about advertisements from operators lacking a KSA licence.

It states that a recent meeting of the coalition also involved exchanging up-to-date knowledge, trends, and insights. The working group also talked about how firms can safeguard their trademarks and conducted a brainstorming session on what further actions are required to address illegal providers on social media platforms.

“Illegal gambling operators run numerous advertisements on social media,” the KSA stated. “They use the names and logos of famous Dutch athletes and major brands to appear more trustworthy. Consumers often find it hard to tell if a gambling operator is licensed. To safeguard consumers, the KSA is therefore intensifying its efforts to fight online advertising by illegal operators.”

Concerns over licensed gambling ads in the Netherlands

Concerns in the Netherlands extend beyond just unlicensed gambling advertisements. A recent study from the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Bristol revealed that a substantial share of advertisements from KSA-licensed gambling operators on Facebook and Instagram may have violated age-targeting rules.

While online gaming licensees were more compliant, with just 7.3 per cent of their ads failing to meet standards, offline licence holders showed a far higher non-compliance rate, with close to 30 per cent of their campaigns breaking the Dutch prohibition on targeting individuals under 24.

The violations were partly attributed to dependence on Meta’s automated Advantage+ optimisation tool, which sets the initial target age to 18 by default unless changed manually. The report also pointed to shortcomings in Meta’s reporting system, which employs wide age ranges like 18–24, complicating advertisers’ ability to confirm they are specifically excluding 18 to 23-year-olds as required.

The study advised Meta to supply audience reach data in single-year age groups. It also proposed that the technology company could set country-specific legal minimum ages as a default. Additionally, the researchers suggest the KSA make it clear to land-based gambling licensees that they must follow the same online advertising restrictions as online operators.

More stringently, the report advocates for stronger enforcement actions, including the pre-approval of gambling advertisements. The government is already seeking to go further, having proposed a total ban on gambling advertising in the Netherlands.