KSA cautions Betca over Circus.nl ad violation

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the regulatory body overseeing gambling in the Netherlands, has recently issued a formal warning to Betca, the operator behind the online casino Circus.nl, due to unauthorized gambling advertisements appearing within a mobile game.

Promotional banners for Circus.nl were detected in the popular mobile game Tiny Tower, which is unrelated to gambling. This incident caught the attention of the KSA, leading to an immediate investigation.

Under Dutch regulation, specifically the Remote Gambling Act, advertising for gambling services is explicitly prohibited in non-gambling environments, including mobile games and general entertainment platforms. This legal framework aims to protect vulnerable demographics, particularly minors and young adults, who are often more susceptible to gambling-related marketing.

By placing advertisements in Tiny Tower, Betca violated this crucial regulation. Consequently, the KSA reached out to the company, urging it to take prompt action to rectify this issue.

In response, Betca acknowledged the error, explaining that the placement of the advertisement in Tiny Tower was a result of human oversight. The company emphasized that the campaign was designed exclusively for users who had previously visited Circus.nl and had self-identified as being over 24 years old.

Upon receiving the KSA’s warning, Betca acted swiftly to remove the offending advertisement. Additionally, the company has implemented enhanced monitoring systems and safeguards to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Considering Betca’s quick resolution of the matter and the unintentional nature of the infraction, the KSA decided against imposing a monetary penalty. However, the regulator reiterated its commitment to closely scrutinizing the operator’s advertising strategies moving forward.

This incident underscores the importance of compliance within the gambling industry, especially as regulators enforce stricter rules to protect consumers. Companies operating in this space must exercise diligence in their marketing efforts, ensuring that they align with existing legal frameworks to avoid potential pitfalls.