Dutch Regulator Warns Lottery Over Misleading Advertorial
The Dutch gambling authority, KSA, cautioned VriendenLoterij for violating ad regulations with an advertorial. The lottery promptly removed the offending article after it learned of the breach.
Lottery Ad Rules Still Apply
While lotteries are exempt from the Netherlands’ gambling ad ban since July 2023, they still must follow strict rules. Lotteries often use “winner stories” for promotion, which is permitted.
However, these stories cannot portray gambling as a solution for personal or financial troubles.
Ad Linked Winnings to Medical Bills
A complaint alleged the VriendenLoterij advertorial featured a winner using prize money to pay medical bills.
The KSA warned that presenting gambling as a solution to such problems could lead to overspending. It prohibits advertising winner stories related to issues like medical problems or overdue bills.
KSA to Enforce Sponsorship Ban
The KSA is preparing to enforce a gambling sponsorship ban starting July 1. Chairman Michel Groothuizen is monitoring Belgium’s ban results. He warned that the Dutch regulator will not tolerate creative loopholes.