News item | 4/19/2023 | 9:00 am
Minister Franc Weerwind for Legal Protection will ban untargeted advertising for online games of chance from 1 July. The ban should better protect vulnerable groups, including young people, against the risk of gambling addiction. Advertisements that are prohibited as of July 1 are radio and TV commercials and billboards on the street. After a transitional period, sponsorship for online games of chance, for example from TV programs or sports clubs, will also fall under the prohibition. Advertising on the internet and television on demand will only be allowed under strict conditions.
Minister Weatherwind:
“Advertising is necessary to make known the legal offer of online games of chance, so that people do not play illegally. At the same time, as a government, we also have a duty to protect vulnerable groups against the risks of online games of chance. With this ban, vulnerable groups, especially young people, come into less contact with these advertisements and we limit the temptation to start high-risk games of chance.”
Online games of chance have been regulated since October 1, 2021 and are therefore legal by the Remote Gambling Act. The opening of this new market led to a large increase in so-called untargeted advertising for online games of chance. Vulnerable groups therefore unintentionally saw a lot of advertising for this risky product. In order to protect these groups and young people in particular, Minister Weerwind banned the use of role models in advertisements for high-risk games of chance as of 30 June 2022. To further guarantee that protection, a broader ban now follows, namely on untargeted advertising for online games of chance.
Online
Advertising via the internet, such as social media, targeted advertisements, direct mailings and television on demand will continue to be allowed under strict conditions. The providers of games of chance must actively prevent advertising reaching young people under the age of 24 or other vulnerable groups. In addition, it must be shown that at least 95 percent of the advertising reached people who were 24 years or older. Where advertising is shown, people must be able to indicate that they do not want to see the advertising.
Transition period of existing sponsorship contracts
Sponsorship also falls under the prohibition of untargeted advertising. A transitional period applies to existing sponsorship contracts. This offers sports clubs in particular financial scope to attract sponsors other than providers of games of chance. The transitional period for sponsorship of TV programs and events will last until July 1, 2024. Sponsorship in the sports sector will remain permitted until July 1, 2025. From July 1, 2025, sponsorship by licensed online games of chance providers will be prohibited.
Evaluation of the Remote Gambling Act
The Remote Gambling Act will be evaluated in 2024. It is then assessed whether the objectives of the regulation of online games of chance are being achieved. Due to signals that the increase in untargeted advertising since October 1, 2021 has an impact on young people and other vulnerable persons, rapid adjustment was necessary. That is why there is now a ban on untargeted advertising.