Netherlands Will Ban Untargeted Gambling Ads

Beginning next year untargeted gambling ads will be banned in the Netherlands as the government has initiated a strict clampdown on betting promotion.

The government will ban broadcast ads in January of next year, while the sponsorship of teams will be banned effective in 2025. The move was pushed by the Ministry of Legal Protection, and it comes as politicians saw a huge influx of gambling ads once the country launched regulated online betting last year.

There will no longer be radio or television ads, and public spaces won't have billboards or other forms of marketing allowed beginning January 1st, 2023. The sponsorship of events and television programs will be banned effective January 1st, 2024, while sport team sponsorships will be banned effective January 1st, 2025.

This move was hailed by Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind, who said, "Today we have taken an important step towards further curbing gambling advertisements. Advertising is a means of directing people to the legal offer, but the importance of addiction prevention is more important.

"With this, I want to protect vulnerable groups such as young people in particular."

The move will likely impact betting companies who moved to get licenses in the country and will be fighting to find new ways to garner customers in the market.