New push to bring back gambling ad restrictions to prevent compulsive betting, addiction
Dutch lawmakers propose stricter regulations and fines for online gambling to address rising addiction rates, particularly among young people.Summary
Dutch lawmakers Mirjam Bikker and Sarah Dobbe are pushing for stricter regulations on online gambling, including steep fines – up to 100% of annual revenue – and near-total advertising restrictions. This initiative follows a record €25 million fine against Novatech for illegal gambling and growing concerns about gambling addiction, especially among young people. The lawmakers aim to empower the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) to swiftly shut down illegal websites and strengthen the national exclusion registry, Cruks. They cite the unintended consequences of the 2021 legalization of online gambling, which led to a surge in accessible gambling sites and a rise in addiction cases, as highlighted by personal stories and data from the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (WODC) and the National Alcohol and Drugs Information System (LADIS). The proposal emphasizes the need to hold gambling companies financially accountable and acknowledges the significant social cost of online gambling, comparing its addiction risks to those of tobacco.
(Source：Nl Times)