for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
The Dutch regulator is cracking down on influencers who promote unlicensed operators, issuing warnings and financial penalties.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has imposed penalties on three Dutch influencers, Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt, for sharing videos that promoted illegal gambling providers. The content, posted across social media platforms, encouraged viewers to engage with unlicensed operators, in breach of Dutch gambling law.
This enforcement action underscores the regulator’s determination to curb the promotion of illegal gaming at a time when legal operators face increasing pressure from rising tax rates and tighter compliance demands.
Three influencers targeted
The regulator gave the influencers 48 hours to remove illegal gambling videos.
According to the KSA, all three influencers were repeat offenders. They had previously been warned against promoting illegal operators but continued to post content. The new penalties come with strict conditions: if fresh promotional content reappears, each influencer will face escalating fines of €25,000 per violation, up to a maximum of €75,000.
The KSA emphasised that this latest round of enforcement is designed not only to punish but also to deter other influencers who might consider promoting unlicensed gambling.
Illegal operators under scrutiny
The regulator is moving aggressively against content that diverts players away from the legal market.
Dutch authorities have repeatedly flagged influencer marketing as a high-risk channel for illegal gambling. By glamorising unlicensed operators on platforms with younger audiences, influencers create pathways for underage or vulnerable users to engage with prohibited content.
This action follows a wider regulatory trend in the Netherlands. In July, a KSA report found that 93% of Dutch players now gamble exclusively with licensed operators. Regulators credited stronger enforcement and increased market oversight for this progress. However, industry stakeholders, including the Dutch Lottery, have warned that rising gambling tax rates could challenge this balance, potentially pushing players back towards unlicensed sites.
Repeat offences highlight regulator’s zero-tolerance approach
The fines mark a continuation of KSA’s campaign against influencer-driven promotion.
This is not the first time the KSA has targeted online personalities. In July, YouTube influencer LeftlanePapi was sanctioned for a similar offence after posting videos that encouraged illegal gambling.
By taking public enforcement action against multiple influencers within months, the regulator is signalling that it will pursue high-visibility cases to discourage wider non-compliance.
Investigating influence tactics
The regulator is also examining how operators use behavioural techniques to shape player decisions.
Beyond influencer penalties, the KSA has launched a broader investigation into player influence strategies used by gambling operators. Announced last week, the study will assess how providers monitor user behaviour and whether their tactics are beneficial, neutral, or harmful.
The regulator will also review whether certain practices breach operators’ duty of care obligations. This duty requires licensees to protect vulnerable players and intervene when gambling behaviour shows signs of harm.
KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen commented:
“At the KSA, we understand that online providers, like other commercial companies, monitor what users do on their platforms and how they can influence that to their advantage.”
Implications for operators
The crackdown raises questions about marketing strategies, compliance, and industry reputation.
For licensed operators in the Netherlands, the message is clear: promotional partnerships with influencers carry heightened risk. Any association with unlicensed activity could draw scrutiny not only to the individuals but also to brands that benefit from exposure.
This case also highlights the growing importance of social media monitoring in compliance frameworks. Regulators are increasingly holding platforms and personalities accountable for illegal content, which could shift enforcement pressure onto operators to prove that their marketing partners act within legal boundaries.
At the same time, the KSA’s focus on behavioural influence techniques signals that stricter regulation may extend beyond illegal promotions to include practices such as personalisation, targeted advertising, and in-game nudges. Operators will need to evaluate whether their engagement strategies align with evolving standards of responsible gambling.
What comes next
Influencer marketing is set to face even tighter oversight as the regulator tests new boundaries of enforcement.
The fines against Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt demonstrate that the KSA is prepared to escalate penalties and pursue repeat offenders aggressively. As the regulator balances market growth with consumer protection, enforcement against visible figures in the online ecosystem is likely to remain a key tool.
For operators, this development reinforces the importance of:
- avoiding informal or unvetted influencer partnerships
- monitoring third-party content that references gambling brands
- aligning advertising and behavioural strategies with duty of care rules
With tax increases already creating pressure on the legal market, the KSA’s parallel crackdown on illegal content suggests that regulatory intensity will remain high throughout 2025.
Source: Gambling Insider
