Hard Rock Casino NL CEO Cristiano Blanco has said he believes a full advertising ban is unlikely to be introduced in the Netherlands, as he issued stark warning on the future makeup of the market should such a policy come to light.
Back in March, the Dutch minister for legal protection tasked with overseeing gambling, Teun Struycken, said it was possible for the Dutch market to implement stricter advertising restrictions.
That followed his earlier comments last October that a blanket ban was being considered.
Earlier this month, head of the Netherlands Gambling Authority’s (KSA) regulatory department Renske Fikkers admitted a blanket ban was becoming an “increasingly realistic option”.
From 1 July, licensed operators are no longer allowed to sponsor athletes, teams or sporting attire, as well as sporting competitions in the market.
Despite this, Blanco said he thinks the KSA is more likely to tighten its guidelines elsewhere, such as centralised deposit limits, as opposed to implementing a full ad ban.
Speaking to EGR, the former ComeOn Group exec also sounded the alarm bell that should policymakers push ahead with a total ban, it would be the consumer that would ultimately suffer.
He added that even if a total ad ban doesn’t come into effect, the other restrictive measures being pursued would continue to hamper the regulated sector.
Blanco remarked: “Despite growing public and political pressure, a full blanket advertising ban in the Netherlands remains unlikely.
“This is not because the regulator has embraced a more pragmatic or enlightened understanding of the gambling ecosystem but rather because their restrictive focus is increasingly being redirected elsewhere, specifically, toward deposit and spending controls.
“The Dutch regulator appears intent on tightening player protection through systemic measures such as centralised deposit limits at the market level, rather than focusing further on advertising restrictions.
“These tools are seen as more directly impactful in addressing problem gambling, of course, totally ignoring the unintended consequences of driving players to unregulated or black market operators.”
Expanding further, Blanco noted that a blanket ban would weaken the regulated Dutch market, which according to KSA-authored reports is already seeing huge volumes of stakes leak to the black market.
He continued: “In a digital environment, users can access illegal platforms with ease. Restricting advertising by licensed operators doesn’t prevent gambling, it simply removes the consumer’s ability to distinguish between legal and illegal offerings.
“A full ban would risk creating confusion, reducing channelisation and weakening the very framework the Netherlands has spent years building.
“Rather than eliminating advertising, the current trend suggests a shift toward more targeted, restricted and socially responsible messaging.
“Operators are already navigating complex compliance obligations around content, tone and placement.
“A full ban would render these efforts moot, and it’s doubtful the regulator wishes to undermine its own framework.
“Moreover, political energy seems more aligned with enhancing financial oversight and introducing market-wide affordability checks, both of which are likely to be perceived as more effective than further ad restrictions.”
Last month, Unibet was hit with a warning from the KSA over advertising breaches, with the regulator stating it would impose “stricter sanctions” should the shortcomings occur again.
The post A full Dutch advertising ban would reduce channelisation, says Hard Rock Casino NL CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.
Cristiano Blanco claims such a policy would induce confusion among bettors and set about “weakening the very framework the Netherlands has spent years building”
The post A full Dutch advertising ban would reduce channelisation, says Hard Rock Casino NL CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.