The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has sent a shockwave through the European iGaming sector by ordering all licensed operators to immediately disable “bet sharing” functionalities.
The regulator argues that these viral tools constitute a form of unmanaged advertising that poses a direct threat to minors and individuals with gambling addictions.
Loss of Regulatory Control
Bet sharing tools, which have become a staple for modern sportsbooks, allow users to broadcast their specific wagers to social circles via platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram. While operators viewed these as social engagement features, the KSA classifies them as a marketing loophole.
Because the message is sent from one private individual to another, the operator cannot verify the age or “Cruks” (Dutch exclusion registry) status of the recipient.
“The KSA calls on all online gambling operators that use the ‘Share your bet’ functionality to cease doing so immediately. The KSA will continue to monitor any new developments in this area and will take enforcement action where necessary to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups,” the regulator stated.
Legal Compliance and Duty of Care
The directive is grounded in the Decree on Gambling Advertising, Promotion and Addiction Prevention, which mandates that operators must ensure their marketing does not reach vulnerable groups.
By facilitating “peer-to-peer” advertising, the KSA believes operators are effectively outsourcing their marketing to the public, thereby bypassing their legal duty of care. This move signals a tightening grip on the Dutch market, as the KSA seeks to eliminate any “grey area” tactics that could lead to underage exposure or the recruitment of former addicts back into the ecosystem.
