The Netherlands recently announced that from July 1, 2023, all “untargeted” adverts promoting gambling activities will be banned. The country’s Minister for Legal Protections Franc Weerwind made the confirmation in his response to ministerial questions submitted to the Dutch Parliament (Kamer).
July 1 Implementation Now Confirmed
Originally slated to take effect on January 1, 2023, the ban on untargeted advertising has been postponed to July 1 after the Dutch Council of State questioned the reasoning behind the measure, noting the lack of clear, solid evidence to support the ban. The Council called on Minister Weerwind to provide a better explanation for the stringent measure.
The Minister complied with the Council’s recommendations, giving relevant stakeholders enough time to make adjustments. The government will proceed with implementing the ban on July 1, as confirmed by Minister Weerwind. The measure is aimed at curbing the impact of gambling advertisements on minors and young people.
The new rules, initially announced in July 2022 by Minister Weerwind, will prohibit gambling operators in the country to advertise on television, radio, or in public indoor and outdoor areas. Along with the ban on untargeted advertising, online gambling sports sponsorships will also come to an end by 2025.
