Dutch Parliament Debates Ban on Online Gambling Advertising Amid Target Audience Concerns
Dutch Members of Parliament are actively debating a proposed ban on online gambling advertising, driven by concerns over the potential targeting of young adults.
Targeting Young Adults Under Scrutiny
The debate was intensified following a report from the media outlet De Groene Amsterdammer, which highlighted the prevalence of online gambling ads in the Netherlands, particularly those allegedly aimed at young adults.
The report’s findings sparked questions during a recent Parliamentary Q&A session, where Dutch Secretary of State for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken in the interview for Casinonieuws.nl, addressed concerns about the impact of these ads on vulnerable groups, especially young adults.
State Secretary’s Response to the Allegations
Teun Struycken, representing the New Social Contract Party (NSC) and a key figure in the ongoing reforms of the Dutch Remote Gambling Act (KOA), provided clarification during the session.
Struycken refuted the claim that 60% of gambling advertisements are reaching young adults, citing data from the De Groene Amsterdammer survey which indicated that only a small percentage of the audience for these ads falls within the 18 to 24 age bracket.
Despite this, Struycken reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding young and vulnerable individuals from the potential harms associated with gambling.
Previous Efforts to Ban Gambling Advertisements
The push for a ban on online gambling advertisements is not new. Michiel van Nispen of the Socialist Party previously introduced a motion to impose a blanket ban, arguing that reducing the number of gamblers should be a government priority.
However, this proposal did not gain the necessary support during its initial submission in April.
The motion was opposed by the then Legal Protections Minister, Franc Weerwind, who was succeeded by Struycken following the recent elections.
Future Steps and Research
In response to the renewed calls for a ban, Struycken stated that a more detailed response will be provided at a later date.
Additionally, the State Secretary acknowledged the need for more comprehensive data on the links between gambling addiction, poverty, and suicide. He confirmed that a survey aimed at analyzing problem gambling behavior is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
The findings of this survey could play a crucial role in shaping future prevention and treatment strategies.
Source: Casinonieuws.nl
