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Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioDutch gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) confirmed that gambling sponsorships will be prohibited at this weekend’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
The move comes after the KSA imposed a nationwide ban on all sports gambling sponsorships back on July 1. The Dutch regulator noted that “after the ban took effect on July 1st, virtually all public displays disappeared.” That will again be the case at Zandvoort, as the track hosts its biggest race of the season on Sunday.
Ban Forces Change in Stake Branding for F1 Team
Crypto online casino and sportsbook operator Stake typically sponsors cars for Sauber Motorsport driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. The team will race under the Stake F1 Team Kick banner at Zandvoort, with the streaming service Kick to “replace Stake branding for Dutch viewers while retaining its team name.”
For this year’s race, geo-blocking measures have been implemented to prevent Dutch fans from accessing Stake. This isn’t the first time Switzerland-based Sauber Motorsports has used the workaround to gain entry into an F1 race this season.
Kick was featured as the primary sponsor on the team’s cars for events in Belgium, Spain, Australia and Qatar. All of those countries had similar sponsorship restrictions in place.
Social casino operator VGW has sponsored Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 since 2023. “VGW Play” usually appears on the team’s cars, drivers’ helmets, and outfits, but this will not be permitted for any Dutch Grand Prix racing activities.
VGW has also entered NASCAR with its Chumba Casino brand. The social casino received significant exposure when 23XI driver Bubba Wallace recently won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
KSA Adopts Zero-Tolerance Approach in Sponsorship Ban
The KSA has instructed event organizers and governing bodies to ensure that neither domestic nor international teams display gambling-related branding during sports competitions.
KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen noted the regulator will “take a strong stance against any violators of new regulations around gambling sponsorship.”
He stated: “In other countries with similar bans, we’ve seen operators attempt to creatively circumvent the law. That will not be tolerated in the Netherlands.”
Early this summer, the KSA officially reprimanded BetMGM over an ad featuring 17-year-old FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.” Under Dutch law, you must be at least 18 years old to bet legally, and ads can’t be targeted toward vulnerable groups such as minors.
Groothuizen stated: “This legislation was enacted to protect young adults and other vulnerable groups by preventing their exposure to gambling advertisements, regardless of the source. We will be vigilant in upholding that protection.”
The Netherlands is also a stickler when it comes to betting rules. The KSA recently warned TonyBet about offering soccer betting markets such as the Ballon d’Or, which is given to the world’s top soccer player. Dutch law prohibits wagers on awards determined by panel votes or committees.
