Dutch Regulator Warns JOI Gaming Over Use of Celebrities

JOI Gaming, the operator of gambling brand Jacks in the Netherlands, has been warned it could face a maximum penalty of €1m if it repeats a violation of breaches of the ban on role models in gambling marketing.

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), said that at the Jack’s Racing Day event in 2023, role models for the operator signed caps with the event logo and the Jacks brand name.

Meanwhile, role models posing with hostesses wearing corporate clothing with the Jacks logo were pictured and posted on the Jack’s Racing Day website and on social media.

“These posts were still available when the order was imposed. If JOI Gaming does not remove these statements immediately, the company must pay a penalty of €50,000 per day,” the KSA said.

If the violation is repeated in the run-up to or during future editions of Jack’s Racing Day, JOI Gaming must pay a penalty of €200,000 per day with a maximum penalty of €1m, the regulator said.

Jack’s Racing Day 2024 is set to be held on August 2-4 at TT Circuit Assen. “To protect vulnerable groups such as young people and risk and problem gamblers, strict rules apply to the use of role models for gambling advertising,” the KSA said in a statement.

“Role models include celebrities, (former) professional footballers, influencers and models. The use of role models is prohibited for high-risk gambling, such as casinos and online gambling.

“For lower-risk gambling, such as lotteries, they may be used under strict conditions.”