More countries across Europe are considering expanding the restrictions on gambling advertising amid growing fears of addiction and harm. In 2021, the Netherlands opened its online gambling market, paving the way to licensed iGaming activities. Now, several years later, concerns about the impact on young people pushed lawmakers to file a new proposal that called for urgent gambling marketing restrictions.
Two Parties Propose Changes to Dutch Gambling Regulations
The effort is led by two parties, who proposed a range of limits on iGaming activities. As announced by NOS on Wednesday, the initiative is supported by the ChristenUnie and the SP. The two parties are reportedly proposing enhanced iGaming restrictions, including the implementation of a complete ban on gambling online with credit cards.
The SP and ChristenUnie’s gambling bill also focuses on gambling marketing restrictions, namely a complete ban on such advertisements. The two parties explored options for the implementation of a blanket ban on online gambling, something that was previously proposed by their fellow politicians from the SGP and the CDA.
However, given that the Dutch gambling market has already lifted off, SP and ChristenUnie considered that such a proposal is unlikely to receive broad support. This is why they considered a package of restrictions that ultimately seek to protect consumers from gambling on credit while restricting advertising as a way to protect young adults.
Urgent Changes Are Necessary
The latest announcement comes after earlier this month, a new evaluation uncovered that the Dutch gambling act fails to protect vulnerable groups. Per this report, released by the government agency WODC, the regulatory framework was deemed “inadequate.” Not unexpectedly, the report called for urgent changes to the regulations to ensure the protection of consumers from addiction and harm.
According to SP MP Van Nispen, the party previously said that action needed to be taken even before the evaluation was released. “Now it is there, and things are still being postponed,” he revealed. Additionally, Nispen argued that the report must serve as evidence to Dutch parties that restrictions to the sector are necessary.
Similar was the opinion of Mirjam Bikker, an MP and leader of the ChristenUnie. She acknowledged the findings of the evaluation are “shocking,” warning that the existing regulations put the health and well-being of young people at risk. “People have been naive and have not realized that you always have that slot machine, with your phone, in your pocket,” said Bikker.
The two parties united around the idea that urgent changes to the sector are needed. While they will support additional restrictions, it is unclear if those gambling limits will gain further traction among Dutch lawmakers.
