With strict compliance practices, the question of whether the Netherlands gambling market can overcome downfalls like its other European equivalents, and the topic of advertising across the gaming market, created much discussion among the speakers.
The panel was moderated by Birgitte Sand & Associates Aps CEO, Birgitte Sand, and included Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) Managing Director Peter-Paul de Goeij and Arno De jong, Nederlands Loterij CMO.
On the subject of advertising in gambling and why it is deemed so important, Goeij said: “From a regulatory perspective, it plays a vital role in channelling consumers toward the regulated offer.
"There is a risk currently in the Dutch market, and we have been flagging that together with the other trading associations. We need to see to it that Dutch consumers are not inundated with gambling advertising.”
Arnos stated his concerns on marketing around the gaming industry: “I worry about the volume of advertising. Every day there are full pages now, with addiction problems, or football players doing something. We should be fast in regulating before it gets to that, that is my main concern.”
When speaking about the issues of gambling advertisements towards the public, there appears to be a fine line between lottery advertising, and gaming and sports betting advertising in the Netherlands.
Arnos commented: “In advertising, there is a different response to online gaming and lottery.”
To which Goeij responded: “We [NOGA] research the Dutch online gambling market, and when consumers were asked about advertising, they do not make a distinction [between the two] and think gambling advertising is irritating!”
