Kansspelautoriteit has extended its contract with Human Assistance Network for Daily Support – Hands 24×7 – for Loket Kansspel, the country’s support centre for gambling problems.
In addition, the Dutch gaming authority has imposed a binding instruction on DigitalOcean, ordering the hosting provider to cease and desist from providing services to affiliate websites that are referring Dutch players to illegal gambling operators.
KSA stated that Hands 24×7 has been supporting Loket Kansspel for several years, with employees helping to provide gambling information, help and guidance 24/7 to those that need it, as well as referring people to support and help and guidance in their local area when necessary.
According to the authority, Loket Kansspel was approached over 6,600 times in 2023 by gamblers or their friends and family who sought help or information via telephone, chat or WhatsApp.
KSA praised Hands 24×7 employees for being “skilled and motivated” with Loket Kansspel, extending the contract to “further invest together in even better information provision on the website, even more effective interventions and even more visibility and brand awareness among the target group,” alongside other parties involved in addiction care and prevention.
As previously mentioned, a binding instruction has also been imposed by KSA on DigitalOcean, demanding the hosting provider cease and desist from offering services to affiliate websites that are referring Dutch players to illegal gambling operators.
The authority noted that affiliate websites casinozonderregistration and nieuw-casinos advertise illegal gambling offers, referring Dutch players to unlicensed operators. However, since the owners of the websites can’t be determined, the ruling has been placed on the hosting provider because it allows the websites to be available in the Netherlands.
As a result, KSA has ordered DigitalOcean to stop providing services to these affiliates within four weeks. If the hosting provider fails to comply with the gaming authority’s notice, a follow-up sanction – penalty and/or fine – may be imposed.