Gambling Regulation News

Dutch regulator bans live betting ads during sports matches

Dutch gambling authority emphasises prohibition on live betting advertisements during sports matches to protect against impulsive gambling behaviour.

Olga Muntyan
Olga Muntyan

Jun 16, 2026 · 3 min read

Dutch regulator bans live betting ads during sports matches

De Kansspelautoriteit has written to sports betting providers emphasising the prohibition on live advertisements encouraging gambling during live matches. The Dutch gambling authority's reminder comes as the World Cup approaches, when increased betting participation is expected.

Prohibited advertising methods

The regulator clarified that operators cannot entice viewers to place bets during matches through various channels. Prohibited methods include social media posts, push notifications, and emails that encourage live betting during sporting events.

The ban aims to protect potential gamblers from impulsive participation in gambling during sports matches, maintaining viewer focus on the sporting action rather than betting opportunities.

Warning

Operators using automated marketing systems should audit their push notification triggers and social media scheduling tools to ensure no messages are programmed to send during live sporting events, as violations may result in immediate enforcement action.

Enhanced World Cup enforcement

De Kansspelautoriteit previously contacted licensed operators regarding broader advertising restrictions, including the prohibition on sports sponsoring and use of role models in gambling advertisements.

The authority expects heightened betting activity during the World Cup tournament and will conduct enhanced supervision of advertising rule compliance. Direct enforcement action will be taken upon violations.

Marketing Strategy

Establish clear internal protocols distinguishing pre-match promotional windows from live-match blackout periods. Consider implementing automated content approval workflows that flag any betting-related communications scheduled during match times.

Regulatory implications

This enforcement reminder reflects stricter oversight of real-time gambling promotion tactics. Operators must ensure their marketing strategies distinguish between pre-match advertising and prohibited live-match betting solicitation. The timing suggests authorities are preparing for increased scrutiny during major sporting events, potentially setting precedent for ongoing live advertising enforcement.

Legal Disclaimer

This content reflects a general overview of regulatory frameworks based on publicly available information. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. iGamingWriter.blog disclaims any liability arising from reliance on this material.

Olga Muntyan

Written by

Olga Muntyan

Director of Project Management

Olga has been leading project management at We–Right™ Factory since 2020, coordinating multilingual content delivery for iGaming operators and affiliates. She manages timelines, team capacity, and cross-market workflows that keep large-scale content production on track. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about project coordination, content pipeline management, and operational efficiency in iGaming content teams.

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