Moral panic Today we highlight an excellent research paper, which should be required reading for journalists, academics, regulators, lobbyists, lawmakers, and industry leaders. Gambling Public Policy Consulting’s ‘Addressing the Narrative Gap: Investigating Media Coverage vs. Empirical Evidence on Gambling’, serves as a warning to all about the dangers of oversimplifying a complex issue. Reasons to…
Escapism emerges as a central but previously overlooked driver of gambling, according to new international research that challenges long-standing assumptions about why people place bets. A study from researchers in Australia, Canada, Gibraltar and Hungary has found that gambling to escape from reality, stress or negative emotions is one of the strongest motivations linked to…
Ivana Bacik, the leader of Ireland’s Labour party, wants to see all gambling ads in the Republic taken down.
The leader of Ireland’s joint-second-largest opposition party (in the Dáil Éireann) shared her thoughts with the Sunday Independent, supposedly prompted to do so by a BoyleSports retail ad in Dublin offering cash deposits and withdrawals without the need for a bank account.
“Labour have called for a ban on gambling ads. In recognition of the harm caused by advertising to those at risk of gambling addiction, other countries have introduced bans on all gambling ads. Ireland should follow suit,” Bacik told the news outlet.
“We know that gambling companies prey on the vulnerabilities of problem gamblers. It is deeply concerning to see companies targeting people with addiction issues. Labour’s senator Mark Wall has called for a ban on all gambling ads, to stamp out this behaviour. We have a serious issue with gambling in this country, and it must be addressed.”
Contacted by the Sunday Independent, BoyleSports said: “All of our customers go through a very strict verification process when opening an online account. We operate robust processes across all our customers’ accounts. Our process is fully in line with all legal and regulatory requirements, and with pending regulation.”
Whilst the operator’s response addressed its online offering rather than the retail one in connection with the above-mentioned advert, alas it is unclear what the Independent’s questions actually were, one thing is for certain – problem gambling is treated with utmost importance by licensed gambling providers by design.
One-sided argument?
Bacik’s comments that accuse gambling companies of ‘preying on the vulnerabilities of problem gamblers’ as something that is matter of fact could be viewed as irresponsible given her position of power, where she knowingly or unknowingly disregards years of international scientific and regulatory work towards developing problem gambling protection policies.
Given her high level of political involvement, it is safe to assume that her statement about Ireland having a “serious issue with gambling” was informed by 2023 data from Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Institute, which put around 3.3% of adults at a serious risk of problem gambling, while 7.1% showed signs of moderate problem gambling behaviours.
Whilst a step in the right direction for informing future policy, these numbers are of course based on estimates derived from self-reported survey responses and not concrete, audited evidence of where the market currently is.
ESRI itself points out the limitations of the study and the caveats of defining problem gambling (PG) and moderate risks.
“There can be considerable variation between individuals classified as having PG,” the report stated.
“For example, an individual who spends little on gambling but nonetheless very often feels anxiety about their gambling, who experiences gambling-caused health problems and feels they may have a problem with gambling, could achieve the same score as an individual who very often bets more than they can afford to lose, tries to win back losses and whose gambling has caused financial difficulty for their family, even if they do not recognise they have a problem or experience any anxiety.
“Hence, further research on the structure of PG among those who score highly is necessary to inform targeted policy interventions.”
Additionally, Bacik’s calls for Ireland to follow in the footsteps of other European countries – many of which like the Netherlands, Spain and Italy have introduced bans on all gambling advertisements for the sake of protecting vulnerable groups – could benefit from examining the impact of these bans.
Previous coverage on SBC News has found time and time again that this might not have the intended effect once implemented, as seen with Italy’s 2019 ‘Dignity Decree’ that drove one in four players to the black market, or in the Netherlands where illegal gambling websites surged in popularity after the visibility of the licensed offers was significantly reduced.
To conclude, opposite to the Labour leader’s doom and gloom portrayal of current circumstances, it could be argued that the Irish gambling market is actually heading in the right direction thanks to the newly-established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
The Gambling Regulation Bill and the GRAI it created have set out a list of policies to maintain this regulatory development, including the Social Impact Levy that will see a dedicated stream of gambling-derived tax being funnelled into problem gambling support efforts.
Dutch gaming operator JOI Gaming Ltd has been hit with a €400,000 penalty by Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) after a two-year legal process.
The legislative breaches refer to the use of multiple personalities, considered to be role models by the regulator, for the promotion of the operator’s offers around the 2023 Jack’s Racing Day – a major combined motorsport event in Europe.
It is strictly forbidden to use role models in the advertising of almost all types of gambling, including sports betting and online casino. Enforcing this amendment of the KOA Act, introduced last year, falls under the KSA’s efforts to protect vulnerable consumers and minors in the Netherlands.
According to the Dutch gambling rulebook, role models include anyone that is widely known in the Netherlands – from current and retired footballers to influencers. This is because their status as successful individuals with desired lifestyles can be impressionable to children.
Lotteries do represent an exemption where such a person can be used for marketing purposes, but only under specific and very strict conditions.
Multimedia posted on JOI’s social media accounts when the infringement took did include such individuals in various activities promoting the event, such as signing caps or posing for photos with event staff.
While JOI Gaming initially complied with the order to take down the social posts, according to the KSA, the fine is making its way into the public domain only now because of a partial interim injunction granted by the court after an apparent appeal by the operator.
The regulator has proven several times that it does not mess about when it comes to facilitating a safe and sustainable market. Much of these enforcement actions came amid a political atmosphere leaning towards more gambling reforms in the Netherlands.
Most recently, Unibet – the brand owned by French giant FDJ United – was fined €4m as a result of a failure to comply with the Dutch duty of care standards, following another €450,000 penalty incurred by the same operator.
As for the market in general, reforms introduced by former Legal Protections Minister Franc Weerwind to overhaul the Remote Gaming Act (KOA) are still ongoing, but have already proven successful especially around player protection.
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, has enhanced its stance on the technical and data-quality standards of operators’ Control Databases (CDBs) of Dutch gambling.
The CDB is recognised as the principal data monitoring system that enables the KSA to oversee all licensed online gambling activity in real time.
Under the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), every permit holder must record game data in a near-real-time environment, stored in a separate CDB that the KSA and other authorities can directly access. The database is designed to guarantee that gambling in the Netherlands is conducted in a responsible, reliable and verifiable manner.
CDB orders
Operators are obliged to maintain a CDB that is continuously available, accurately configured, and promptly updated following any operational or technical change. Licensees must prevent disruptions, notify the KSA of any planned maintenance or infrastructure renewal, and ensure that any modification to game offerings, systems or data mapping is immediately reflected in the CDB.
The database must also be kept compliant with the latest technical specifications and data-model updates, the most recent being version 1.11, which came into force in December 2024 in line with the Responsible Gaming Policy 2024. Any failure to implement or maintain these updates constitutes a breach of Dutch regulations and can result in enforcement action or licence review.
KSA warns of shortcomings
In its latest inspection round, the KSA carried out a CDB data-quality review in July 2025, identifying several shortcomings among licensed operators. A follow-up audit in October confirmed that all providers had since corrected these issues, leading to measurable improvements in the accuracy and reliability of submitted data.
The regulator noted that most licence holders had made “significant progress” in aligning with the new standards, though “a few providers” still required additional attention. The KSA stressed that any detected errors must be rectified immediately — and that historical data must also be updated and improved to ensure continuous traceability.
CDB drives 2026 changes
The KSA warning arrives as the Netherlands prepares for further regulatory decisions by the incoming government changes, as the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) is due to be overhauled in 2026.
The CDB infrastructure will play a key role in that review — particularly in areas related to licence renewal, responsible-gaming interactions and customer-risk monitoring.
Reaffirming its stance, the KSA stated that robust, verifiable data remains the “foundation of effective supervision” and a prerequisite for operators seeking to maintain good standing in the Dutch market.
As the regulator’s technology and data teams continue to expand, control databases are likely to become the next frontier in the Netherlands’ shift toward a stricter, data-driven regulatory model.
The final GambleAware Annual Conference in London yesterday mixed general confusion and fear about the research, education and treatment levy with a more constructive tone than shown in recent years. Leading anti-gambling campaigner James Noyes of the Social Market Foundation (SMF) told guests at the final GambleAware Annual Conference in London yesterday (Dec 10th) that…
The PT government of Brazil has stated that mental health will be central to its national gambling policy, with the launch of the “Health Observatory on Gambling Disorders” — a first for South America.
The Observatory will be established to study, research, and advise on the prevention of gambling harms in parallel with Brazil’s new national betting market, which officially came into effect in January 2025 and further regulatory changes.
Formed under a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT), the Observatory represents a formal partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, aligning health protection, fiscal oversight and data-sharing under one framework.
The agreement was signed by Health Minister Alexandre Padilha and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, signalling a unified government approach to prevention, treatment and responsible regulation.
Brazil: ACT first on Health & Gambling
The ACT establishes a permanent line of communication between the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) — part of the Ministry of Finance — and the Secretariat of Specialized Health Care (SAES) within the Ministry of Health.
Its aim is to create a continuous data exchange between both institutions, identifying vulnerable individuals and communities while enabling targeted interventions through Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
The five-year agreement, renewable upon review, is designed to serve as the foundation of a national mental health strategy linked to the regulation of gambling and betting activity.
According to Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Betting, the Observatory and its framework are “the tangible results of the Interministerial Working Group on Mental Health and Prevention of Gambling Harms (GTI),” which unites several ministries and agencies in addressing social protection and harm reduction.
“The agreement formalises not just a valuable tool for putting public policies into action but a framework,” said Dudena. “It provides a structured flow of information between agencies and lays out the policies for prevention, risk reduction, and assistance to people with harmful gambling-related behaviours.”
Haddad’s sign off
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad described the initiative as a key moment in connecting fiscal responsibility with social welfare.
“We are very concerned about gambling-related issues; they affect families and have a huge impact on the economy,” Haddad said. “Our greatest concerns are the laundering of money through gambling and other crimes, and the negative consequences of gambling for health.
“For the Ministry of Health to be active, it needs to know, and we have that information. We are going to identify the most significant risk cases, both in crime and addiction, and report those to the Ministries of Justice and Health. The teams are trained to provide the best possible approach.”
The agreement also provides for the creation of educational materials and training programmes for SUS professionals, aimed at helping healthcare workers recognise signs of problem gambling and understand the structure of the betting market.
New public tools and care initiatives
Health Minister Alexandre Padilha described the launch of the Observatory as a “historic step” for Brazil.
“For the first time, we will have qualified information to identify risky behaviours, activate the SUS teams, and provide care and support to those suffering from compulsive gambling — a very invisible issue that destroys lives and families,” he said.
Together with the Observatory, the Ministry of Health has also launched the ‘Care Line for People with Problems Related to Gambling’, offering clinical guidelines, online support and in-person consultations to expand access to treatment across the country.
“The SUS will be ready to reach these people through in-person support, telehealth and the Digital SUS,” Padilha continued. “The message is clear: no one has to face this alone. The SUS is here to help and protect.”
2026: Observatory & self-exclusion
Padilha concluded that the ability to analyse and share data will be the driving force behind Brazil’s prevention strategy. The Ministry of Health confirmed that approximately 450 online consultations per month will be offered, with in-person follow-ups available when necessary.
“The SUS will be crucial in turning information into care,” Haddad added. “Through cooperation between the Ministries of Finance and Health, we can act preventively, responsibly and collaboratively to protect children, young people and adults, and provide real pathways of support to those who have become dependent.”
During 2026, the SPA plans to roll out a centralised self-exclusion system covering all licensed betting operators. Recognised as the SPA’s flagship player-protection initiative, Brazil’s self-exclusion is scheduled to enter beta testing by the close of 2025, ahead of its full nationwide implementation later in 2026.
Under the broader mental health strategy, the SPA’s self exclusion scheme is viewed as the tool system that allows individuals to block access to all licensed betting websites and opt out of receiving betting-related marketing linked to their CPF (tax identification number).
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, has agreed to fund the establishment of an Early Detection of Gambling Harm Partnership (SVSG).
Announced this morning as a principal project of the regulator, the KSA confirmed it will allocate €2m from the Addiction Prevention Fund to build a nationwide framework for earlier identification of gambling harm and faster access to support services.
The SVSG brings together four core organisations at the centre of Dutch public health and social care: the Trimbos Institute, the Dutch Association of Addiction Specialists (VKN), the Municipal Health Service (GGD GHOR Netherlands) and the Dutch Debt Assistance Route (NSR).
The regulator’s collaboration with Trimbos and the national addiction-care network is longstanding. Both groups previously supported the KSA in the development of its gambling addiction action plan, including the creation of treatment pathways, research guidelines and the customer-care training standards that licensed operators must meet to detect early signs of harm.
The new partnership will extend this work into the broader social domain, ensuring that municipalities, addiction services, debt advisers and peer-support groups can respond earlier and more consistently.
KSA underlined that the programme addresses a persistent national concern: gambling harm in the Netherlands is often identified too late. An estimated 209,000 people are at high risk of addiction, yet only a small proportion seeks treatment. Shame, financial stress and uncertainty about available support continue to deter people from accessing help until problems escalate.
By establishing the SVSG, the regulator aims to introduce an integrated early-detection model across healthcare, social services and local government—similar in structure to the 2019 national partnership for alcohol harm (SVA), which has shown the value of coordinated early-intervention strategies.
The SVSG will guide municipalities on embedding early-detection practices into local policy, facilitate nationwide knowledge exchange and ensure that training programmes, e-learning modules and clinical guidelines evolve with new evidence.
A pilot phase will launch in early 2026 across five municipalities, where local core teams, VKN regional officers and NSR project leaders will work together to identify and refer gambling problems at an earlier stage. Existing educational materials will be assessed and expanded where needed.
A broader training effort will also target frontline workers across the social domain, as well as students entering relevant professions, equipping them to recognise early indicators of gambling harm and confidently refer individuals to support. A national online environment will serve as a central hub for best-practice sharing.
From 2027, the model will scale to at least 15 municipalities, forming a consistent nationwide approach.The KSA stressed that the creation of the SVSG and the execution of its multi-year programme will not be disrupted by any political changes linked to the new Dutch government taking shape in 2026. The partnership is anchored in the national addiction-prevention framework and will continue irrespective of shifts in legislative priorities.
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen welcomed the initiative, stating: “Many organisations have been working hard for years to reduce gambling harm, but often in isolation. With this partnership, we permanently bring together knowledge, healthcare, debt counselling and local partners. This makes it easier to find help, and players can get the support they need more quickly. This is an important step towards better consumer protection.”
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled against Lewis Hamilton’s inclusion in betting social media campaigns for the second time this quarter.
Betway has been told to remove a Facebook post from 4 July 2025 which centred around Formula One. The post featured a video of three F1 drives, filmed from behind, along with the Betway logo.
The driver standing in the middle of the trio wore a red uniform with ‘Hamilton’ sketched across the back, while the other two did not have any names. A heading read ‘Who’s the best of the Brits?’.
A complainant queried whether the ad violated the CAP Code by featuring someone who may be of strong appeal to under-18s. The ASA has upheld this complaint, reiterating its view that Hamilton has a strong appeal to young people and comes across as a role model.
The ASA’s statement explained: “The ad featured Sir Lewis Hamilton, who had won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles and was recognised with a knighthood in 2021 for his outstanding achievements and contribution to motorsport.
“In his “Hall of Fame” bio on the Formula 1 website, Sir Lewis Hamilton was described as recognising his responsibility as a role model for young people, which further described that “the social media star encouraged his millions of supporters in ‘Team Hamilton’ to follow their dreams and never give up”.
The ASA did say that it may have allowed the use of an athlete with strong appeal to under-18s in a medium where visibility by that demographic could be excluded, but did not consider Facebook to be such a medium.
To support its rationale, the ASA referenced Hamilton’s 6.3 million Facebook followers – though noting that the demographic of these has not been determined – as well as his 1.6 million under-18 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Hit brakes on Lewis Hamilton ads
To avoid bad press, it’s probably best for the betting industry to avoid using Hamilton, and probably other F1 drivers, on social media posts and other marketing. As noted above, this is not the first time the seven-time drivers champion has appeared in an ASA ruling.
Just under two months ago, a plethora of ASA rulings came out in just one day, one of which focused on Hamilton’s inclusion in a kwiff social media post. Similar to the Betway post, the kwiff one came ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this year, which Hamilton won.
Marketing is becoming an increasingly complex task for operators, with the CAP Code guidance presenting multiple factors for operators to consider. On the same day as the kwiff ruling, Betway was told to remove a post featuring Chelsea FC scarves and Sky Bet to remove a post featuring Gary Neville, despite football pundits and retired players previously being approved in other ASA rulings.
As the dust settles on last week’s UK budget, however, marketing expenditure is likely going to decrease too. Operators need to cut costs as they prepare for tax hikes to take effect from April next year, and marketing is a logical first step.
As marketing expenditure drops, perhaps recurrent complaints – the ASA has issued countless rulings this week while University of Bristol researchers seem to be a constant source of complaints – will also drop.
New research reveals large language models can exhibit human-like gambling addiction behaviours and shows they even possess internal “risk circuits” that can drive them toward bankruptcy. A new study from South Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology presents the strongest evidence to date that popular large language models (LLMs) – including GPT-4o-mini, GPT-4.1-mini, Gemini-2.5-Flash,…