On May 20, Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), sent a letter to all licensed operators, reiterating that during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, betting on specific match events such as the first yellow card and the first corner kick is prohibited, and that non-targeted advertising placements are also banned. He also made it clear that the KSA will take “immediate enforcement actions” against violations, and the KSA simultaneously announced it will intensify review of advertising activities by unlicensed operators.
Specific bans in the KSA notice: yellow-card and corner betting, advertising restrictions, and enforcement statement
In the letter, Groothuizen specifically called out that “betting on which player will receive the first yellow card or be sent off before the first corner kick” is a betting type explicitly banned, and said that during the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship, the KSA found a significant increase in gambling activities. He noted that “this makes it very attractive for companies to attract new players during that period.” He required operators to “always focus on protecting young people and other vulnerable groups,” and promised that once a violation is found, enforcement action will be taken directly, rather than giving a warning period first.
The notice further strengthens the KSA’s existing enforcement record: sports sponsorship has been banned outright since July 2025; in April 2026, the KSA submitted more than 4,600 takedown reports for illegal gambling ads on the Meta platform. Research from City University of Hong Kong and the University of Bristol shows that 11.2% of KSA-licensed operators’ ads still reached Meta users under the age of 24, and the violation rate for offline licensed operators is about four times that of pure online operators.
Dutch policy background: the joint governing agreement puts online gambling into the “sober policy”
The D66/VVD/CDA joint governing agreement (released January 30, 2026) classifies online gambling under a chapter titled “Sober policy: drugs, gambling, sex work.” It argues that while online gambling is legal in the Netherlands, it is also likely to foster crime and human trafficking. The agreement commits to: strengthening the responsibilities of providers of online gambling services, stepping up efforts to combat illegal gambling websites, fully banning online gambling advertising, and exploring limiting the number of online gambling licenses. These commitments still require formal legislative procedures to take effect, and the Dutch legislature has not yet published a specific legislative timeline. This KSA enforcement notice before the World Cup was issued four months after the joint governing agreement was released, consistent with the policy direction revealed by the agreement.
EU-wide series of actions: Belgium BAGO and controversy over crypto sponsorship in the English Premier League
This Dutch action is the second regulatory move taken this month by an EU member state ahead of competitions. Earlier, Belgium’s Gambling Authority (BAGO) said that despite having the strictest advertising restrictions in the EU, the number of people participating in online gambling in Belgium has almost doubled since 2018. In the same period, Entain also pressured English Premier League clubs, demanding the termination of partnerships with unlicensed crypto-asset sponsors before the start of the 2026/27 season.
FAQ
What specific betting types does the Dutch KSA World Cup notice’s core ban cover?
KSA explicitly bans betting on specific match events such as first-yellow-card players and the first corner kick, while also banning non-targeted ad placements. Sports sponsorship has been banned outright since July 2025. The KSA said violations will trigger direct “immediate enforcement actions,” with no grace-period warning.
Has the Dutch joint governing agreement’s comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising already taken effect?
Not yet. The commitment in the D66/VVD/CDA agreement (announced on January 30) to fully ban advertising still requires formal legislative procedures. As of the time of this report, the Dutch legislature has not published a specific legislative timeline.
Does this enforcement action cover unlicensed operators operating outside the Netherlands?
The KSA notice clearly states that it will strengthen review of “illegal operator” advertising activities during the event period, indicating that the enforcement scope is not limited to licensed operators. The KSA has previously handled advertising by overseas unlicensed operators by submitting takedown reports to Meta, but it did not explain the specific review mechanism during the World Cup.
