Ban All Online Gambling Advertising Quickly: De Nederlandse ggz

THE NETHERLANDS (October 24, 2024) — Celebrities who seduce young people online to bet money on sports events. According to the law, this is not allowed in the Netherlands. KRO-NCRV’s research program Pointer discovered that this does happen.

The Gaming Authority is therefore investigating the so-called sports tip platforms. A good start, says chairwoman Ruth Peetoom of the Dutch mental health service. “But this shows how important it is to quickly impose a general advertising ban on online gambling. People, and young people in particular, are now too easily exposed to the risks of addiction.”

Pointer’s research shows that gambling companies try to attract young people in all sorts of ways. By advertising on social media such as TikTok and Snapchat and using role models and terms such as ‘free money’, they lower the threshold and cause serious health risks for these young people. A gambling addiction is often accompanied by financial problems, lack of sleep and mental vulnerability.

“We recognize this tactic from the tobacco industry, for example,” Peetoom explains. “Young people are very sensitive to stimuli such as ‘fast money’ and are influenced by role models. The online gambling industry also makes clever use of this. The younger people find gambling normal, the greater the chance of problematic gambling later in life.” Figures from the Netherlands Gambling Authority show that 22 percent of online gambling accounts belong to young people between the ages of 18 and 23.

General advertising ban, tightening of duty of care and better supervision

Former Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind banned untargeted advertising and the use of celebrities in gambling advertisements in 2023. The Dutch mental health service, together with Addiction Care Netherlands, has been signaling for some time that gambling companies continue to push the boundaries in this regard. Peetoom: “That is why we are jointly advocating a general advertising ban on online gambling . We see major risks, especially on social media. The rules regarding the duty of care of gambling providers must also be formulated more strictly. In addition, supervision of problematic gambling and the duty of care of online gambling providers must also be improved.”

Increase in treatments for (online) gambling addiction

Since the opening of the online gambling market in 2021, the Dutch mental health care sector has regularly warned about the health risks that this entails. We do this together with our members and partners such as Addiction Medicine Netherlands and the Association for Addiction Medicine Netherlands. Recent figures show that the number of people seeking treatment for gambling addiction is increasing. In 2023, this was 2,456 people: an increase of 15 percent, according to institutions. Online gambling is increasingly proving to be the cause.

Pointer published all responses, including those from Addiction Science Netherlands, Tactus and Novadic-Kentron, as an attachment to their news item

SOURCE: De Nederlandse ggz.