The Dutch betting regulator has hit out at two gambling firms this week, TOTO Online and 711, giving the former a warning and the latter a fine.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has shown itself more than willing to issue fines to gambling operators in cases of non-compliance, targeting both legal and illegal companies.

TOTO”s World Cup warning

In TOTO Online’s case, the Nederlandse Loterij‘s online betting divison has been warned for an infraction familiar to anyone who’s followed the Dutch betting market for the past four years – role models in marketing.

The Dutch online betting market was re-regulated back in October 2021 under the Remote Gaming Act (KOA). 

The subsequent market saw a huge amount of marketing and advertising, which prompted some public and political backlash. 

Restrictions on advertising quickly followed, with the 2023 ban on the use of role models like footballers and social media influencers in marketing implemented. In July 2025, sports sponsorship was banned completely.

The KSA has cautioned TOTO after the brand was promoted via social media channels of eight professional football clubs. The posts shared a promotion saying that customers would win a shirt signed by players if they bet €5 via TOTO Online.

The company has been reminded that online gambling firms cannot use either active or former professional footballers, influencers or celebrities in gambling advertising, to avoid appealing to younger consumers and underage people.

“Around major sporting events, the temptation to gamble on sports matches increases,” said Ella Seijsener, Director of Licensing and Supervision.

“We see that more money is being wagered and that young adults in particular underestimate the dangers. That is why we are maintaining extra oversight of compliance with advertising regulations, especially during this period.”

With the World Cup now underway and the Netherlands first game against Japan set to take place on Sunday 14 June, the KSA is more vigilant than usual over potential marketing infractions by betting operators. 

Other European regulators are keeping a close eye on their respective markets too.

711 punished after players lose control

In 711’s case, the licensed gaming firm was fined €886,000 (£700,000) for failing to comply with duty of care standards between February 2022-June 2024.

The KSA requested 10 player files from 711 from players who had incurred ‘high losses’ during this time period, having gambled over a number of days and late at night – telltale signs of problem gambling.

After assessing the files, the KSA found violations across all 10. 

The regulator lambasted 711 for failing to properly analyse user gambling behaviour and not taking appropriate measures to intervene, opening the door for players gambling behaviour to “get out of control”.

“We have observed that not all providers implemented their duty of care equally well from the opening of the market,” said Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the KSA.

“We have therefore conducted additional investigations, which are now resulting in various duty of care fines. At the same time, we have further tightened the requirements regarding the duty of care to prevent excesses such as those we are seeing here in the future.”

Ensuring duty of care is properly met is a top priority for Dutch gaming firms right now, with political pressure on the sector remaining high. In March, opposition political parties called for gambling advertising rules to be made even stricter.

Meanwhile, the market continues to battle against the extensive presence of offshore and illegal firms, many of which the KSA has identified as being very active in marketing themselves via social media.

This, coupled with regulatory restrictions and higher taxes, have contributed to the market stagnating. KSA data released in April showed an 18.% year-over-year fall in gambling revenues to an annual baseline of around €1.2bn.