Online Casino’s in the Netherlands face ban on slots and advertisement

The Dutch house of representatives has voted in favour of a total ban on online gambling advertising as well as “high risk” online games of chance, including slots CasinoScout.nl reported.

Last week, the house of representatives in the Netherlands voted on 114 motions submitted during a number of debates with 14 formal proposals related to iGaming. Out of the 14 motions, ten were adopted with the potential ban on online gambling ads and online slots drawing the most attention among iGaming industry experts.

Both motions were presented by Socialist Party (SP) MP Michiel van Nispen and received enough support in the house of representatives. The most recent motions come after previously rejected proposals by MP Derk Boswijk of the Christian Democratic Appeal. Less than two months ago, a total ban on gambling advertising failed to receive enough votes.

Michiel Van Nispen’s motion submitted last week largely addressed the same restrictions as presented in February’s proposal.

In April’s vote the motion passed with a slight majority of 77 votes. The new outcomes are meant to ban all forms of online advertising for gambling operators in the country. The proposed ban on gambling ads on the internet is a new restriction for online gambling operators after an earlier advertising ban of July 2023, prohibiting gambling ads on radio, tv, and outdoor media.

Possible Ban On Slot Games

Michiel Van Nispen’s adopted motion on a full ban of online casino games such as slots is focused on games that are classified as “online gambling with a notably very high risk” as the player is known to have less control over the outcome of the game. A majority of 79 MPs voted in favour of this motion. Despite favourable votes for the motions, an update to the gambling law Kansspelen op Afstand (Koa), originally introduced in April 2021, remains unsure.

Franc Weerwind, the outgoing Dutch minister for legal protection, has announced that he will study all gambling related motions. The Netherlands is currently in the stage of forming a new government, after November’s 2023 elections showed a far right rise in the country.