The ink of the signed contracts has barely dried when AZ and FC Volendam have been told that they will soon have to look for another shirt sponsor. The cabinet will ban the sponsorship of sports clubs by online gambling companies from 2025.
AZ signed a four-year contract with Kansino this summer as the successor to Afas Software. FC Volendam recently partnered with BetCity for three years† AZ was not yet able to respond to the news from The Hague that was announced by Minister Weerwind for Legal Protection. The Alkmaarders are on a plane to Greece where a practice match against Olympiakos Piraeus will be played tomorrow.
When asked, FC Volendam says that the club cannot say much more at the moment than that they ‘follow the legislation’. When the brand new premier divisionist presented the successor to construction company HSB, Volendam reported that the club was making considerable financial progress due to the agreement with the new main sponsor. In addition, promotions on online gambling would only target fans 18 years and older.
With GG Poker, the football club already had another gambling company on board. Not only shirt advertising will be banned in 2.5 years, advertising billboards from these companies will also no longer be allowed.
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AZ presented last week a second home shirt next to the shirt with Kansino on it. Fans under the age of 18 can only purchase a shirt with the Alkmaar Zaanstreek Foundation log on it.
Ajax recently concluded a multi-year contract with Unibet, provider of online sports betting. Only this money lender is not on the shirt of the Amsterdammers.
Since the online gambling market was legalized last fall, the sports world has been flooded with sponsorship companies. Spots in which Dutch celebrities advertise gambling will be banned from June 30. This measure should prevent gambling addiction.