Netherlands: Optdeck gets double warning over gambling ad violations
KSA issues double warning to Optdeck over advertising and autoplay violations
Key points:
– Optdeck received two warnings from the KSA for non-targeted advertising and an autoplay feature
– A Unibet-branded coach used outside of sports sponsorship breached ad regulations
– BonusBuy autoplay feature was mistakenly activated for two hours, with losses reimbursed
The Netherlands’ Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued two official warnings to operator Optdeck for breaching advertising regulations and offering prohibited autoplay features through its Unibet platform.
The first warning concerns a violation of the country’s ban on untargeted advertising. Unibet, a brand that belongs to Optdeck, sponsors the cycling team Unibet Tietema Rockets and had its logo displayed on a team coach that was also used for non-sporting purposes in the Netherlands.
Optdeck stated it was unaware the vehicle had been used outside its intended sponsorship scope. The team has now been instructed to cease use of the branded coach and Unibet’s logos will be removed or covered.
The second violation relates to a temporary activation of an autoplay feature called BonusBuy. The tool, which allowed players to continue playing using purchased bonuses without restarting the game manually, is banned under Dutch regulation due to its association with unmoderated gameplay. Optdeck explained that the feature was mistakenly activated by a third-party provider and remained live for only two hours before being deactivated.
Players who experienced losses during this window have been reimbursed and the company has implemented additional safeguards to avoid future occurrences.
Good to know: The KSA has published results from a national problem gambling study, which flagged weak operator intervention as a key issue in the Dutch market
Although the KSA acknowledged that both issues were promptly resolved and that preventative measures were taken, it emphasised that the operator bears full responsibility for regulatory compliance.
The regulator has opted to issue warnings for now but warned that further violations may lead to more severe penalties.
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