Betca Removes Ad After Ksa Warning
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has issued a warning to Betca, operator of Circus.nl, regarding an unauthorized gambling advertisement shown within the mobile game Tiny Tower. The company removed the ad immediately following the regulator’s notice.
Ad Appeared in Non-Gambling Mobile Game
The incident involved a gambling advertisement that appeared in Tiny Tower, a mobile game not related to gambling. Dutch law prohibits gambling ads from appearing in games or on websites that are not associated with gambling. This regulation is in place to prevent exposure to gambling content among audiences that are not seeking it, especially younger users.
According to the Ksa, many players of such casual games are minors or young adults, making this form of advertising particularly problematic. The appearance of the ad prompted the regulator to take immediate action.
Betca’s Response and Corrective Measures
Betca acknowledged the violation and explained that the advertisement was shown due to a human error. The company acted quickly to remove the ad and has implemented internal measures to prevent a recurrence.
In its response, Betca stated that the ad was intended for users who had previously visited Circus.nl and confirmed they were over 24 years old. Despite this targeting, the placement in a non-gambling context was deemed inappropriate by the Ksa.