Compliance Updates
Dutch Government Approves Online Gambling Ad Ban
The Dutch government has published the full draft of its ban on “untargeted” advertising and recruitment by licensed betting companies in the Netherlands, setting a start date of July 1.
From that date, operators in the Netherlands will have to adhere to a much stricter advertising policy. Measures include a ban on televised advertisements and marketing in public places, such as via billiards and on printed media.
Bookmakers will have a little more leeway with online and social media advertising. Companies can continue to do so, but must be able to prove that any material is targeted to audiences aged 24 and older.
The document was submitted to the Hague on April 5 by Franc Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection at the Ministry of Justice and Security, the long-term architect of the legislation.
Following the regulation of the Dutch online market on 1 October 2021, political observers in the Netherlands have voiced concern about the increase in advertising after the first licences were issued.
Explaining the rationale behind the new restrictions on the Dutch online betting sector less than three years into maturity, Weerwind outlined that “the amount of advertising for remote games of chance has increased sharply”.
“Addiction care and people who have experience with addiction problems have indicated that they have difficulty with the large amount of untargeted advertising,” the Minister wrote.
“Research also shows that advertising for remote games of chance is often seen through channels with a very wide reach. As a result, people with addiction problems for games of chance can hardly escape a confrontation with games of chance advertising in their daily lives.”
Weerwind did acknowledge that advertising fulfils a core function of the KOA Act legislation which regulated the market back in 2021, that being promotion of the regulated offering.
“It should be noted that it is difficult to quantify the exact consequences of the large amount of untargeted advertising and its broad and untargeted reach,” Weerwind continued.
“This is primarily because it is not yet clear how large the number of players that play on the illegal market are and have played in the past.
“It is clear that many Dutch people already played with illegal providers before the market opened, but it is unclear how large this number is exactly, how many players have since switched from illegal to legal providers and what growth of new players there has been.”
Both the government and KSA have observed that marketing by licensed bookmakers directs punters to legal operators that adhere to the player protection standards enforced by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gambling authority.
However, legislators and addiction treatment specialists’ main concerns are that advertising may be too far-reaching, potentially exposing young people – meaning those aged 18-24 – and under-age consumers to age-restricted betting products.
By confirming the July 1 launch date for the advertising clampdown, Weerwind remains on track with his most recent legislative objectives, having said in March that the ban would come into force no later than this day.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) has taken decisive enforcement action this week against multiple unlicensed and unregulated gambling operators—both domestic and international—that have been unlawfully targeting Arizona residents. As part of its ongoing efforts to protect the public and uphold Arizona gaming laws, the Department has issued several cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed entities offering unlawful wagering activities.
The named operators are allegedly providing access to various illegal online gaming services, including slot-style casino games, “sweepstakes” platforms, sports wagering, horse race betting, and peer-to-peer wagering exchanges. These operations are not licensed by the State and fail to meet Arizona’s strict regulatory requirements, thereby posing significant consumer protection and financial risks to Arizonans.
The following unlicensed operators have been issued cease-and-desist orders:
- Sweepstakes:
- ARB Gaming, LLC d/b/a Modo.us
- MODO.us (online casino) / BITMODO LLC
- Modo
- Epic Hunts
- Event Wagering Sportsbook:
- Generiz
- Peer-to-Peer Exchange:
- ProphetX
- Offers Multiple Types:
- MyBookie
- BetUS.com
The active operations of these companies and online websites in Arizona are alleged to be felony criminal enterprises, and each operator has been directed to desist from any future illegal gambling operations or activities of any type in Arizona. Due to the unregulated and illegal online gaming offerings on these sites, operators are claimed to be in violation of Arizona gaming laws, including:
- Promotion of Gambling (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-3303.
- Illegal Control of an Enterprise (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2312.
- Money Laundering (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2317.
Each aforementioned operator has been directed to immediately cease all online (or other) gambling operations and activities in Arizona, and take the necessary steps to immediately prevent and exclude Arizona residents and visitors from gambling on their websites.
“Illegal gaming—no matter the platform or format—has no place in Arizona. Whether it’s sweepstakes, online casino-style games, or unauthorized sports betting, if an operation exists outside of the state’s legal and regulatory framework, we are prepared to take enforcement action,” stated Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “Illegal gambling is not just unlawful—it’s stealing from our economy and undermining the safeguards that protect consumers. The Department fully supports the licensed and regulated operators who are doing things the right way—operating within the bounds of the law, contributing to Arizona’s economy, and providing the protections that only a regulated market can ensure.”
Consumer Protection Advisory:
As illegal online gaming activity continues to rise, the ADG urges all residents and visitors to be cautious when participating in gaming—whether online or in person. Regulated gaming offers important consumer protections—helping ensure fair play, data security, accountability, and a safer overall experience.
Many online platforms currently accessible in Arizona are neither licensed nor regulated, exposing users to significant risks, including fraud, identity theft, and financial loss. Because these operations fall outside the state’s regulatory authority, ADG cannot assist with complaints or disputes involving unregulated or illegal gaming activities—often leaving victims with no recourse for recovering lost funds. It is important to remember: just because you can download the app, access the website, and play the games does not mean the platform is legal or safe.
Individuals are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of any gaming platform before placing bets or engaging in gameplay. To protect yourself, always use legally authorized and state-regulated operators. A complete list of authorized casinos, event wagering operators, fantasy sports operators, and off-track betting for horse racing is available on ADG’s official website: gaming.az.gov.
How to Report Suspicious Gaming Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:
If you encounter what appears to be an illegal gaming website, app, or an operation impersonating an authorized Arizona casino or licensed operator, take the following steps:
- Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materials associated with the platform or operator.
- Report itto ADG at [email protected] and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information and Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 or by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
- Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
- If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”): for help in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov, and for help in Spanish, go to RobodeIdentidad.gov.
ADG takes complaints about all illegal gambling seriously. To report any form of suspected illegal gambling, visit gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call ADG at (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. Reports can be made anonymously.
The post Arizona Department of Gaming Issues Multiple Cease-and-Desists appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has for the first time imposed a fine of €734,000 on one of its licensees because the company failed to adequately protect young adults against excessive gambling and gambling addiction.
Gambling companies have a duty of care and must protect players as much as possible against excessive gambling and gambling addiction. According to the KSA, the provider in question has not sufficiently complied with this duty of care and will be fined for this.
The KSA started an investigation after signals about large losses suffered by young adults. In this investigation, a selection of 10 of the player files with the largest losses were examined at the provider, whereby violations were found in all files. These were young adult players (18 to 23 years old) who gambled away tens of thousands of euros in often a relatively short period of time.
Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the board of the KSA, said: “We have a licensed gambling market based on the idea that anyone who wants to gamble can do so safely. That is why providers have a duty of care towards their players and must respond adequately to excessive gaming. Major losses are an important signal of that. We have intensified our supervision of the online duty of care and we take tough action against violations such as those we find here, because we really do not want to see providers continue to fail in their duty of care, especially for vulnerable young players.”
The post KSA: Fine of €734,000 Imposed for Breach of Duty of Care appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aviatrix has received certification to offer its award-winning crash game to operators in Estonia.
It marks the latest regulated market that Aviatrix has entered into, with the game already live in the country with leading brand FenixBet.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “Securing certification in Estonia is another exciting step forward for Aviatrix as we continue to expand into regulated markets. We’re thrilled to already be live with FenixBet and look forward to delivering our innovative crash game experience to even more players in the country.”
Aviatrix has added a host of regulated markets over recent months, including Spain, Colombia, Brazil and Peru.
It underlines the team’s commitment to bringing the game to players around the world.
Aviatrix is a constantly evolving game, with regular feature updates for partners, including the recent launch of free bets, now available through in-game promo codes.
The post Aviatrix granted certification in Estonia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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