Dutch regulator warns of penalties against three social media influencers

• Dutch gaming authority KSA has imposed financial penalties on three social media influencers for promoting unlicensed gambling operators
• The influencers Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt face fines of €25,000 per violation up to a maximum of €75,000 each
• The action follows previous warnings and forms part of KSA’s stricter enforcement strategy targeting illegal gambling content on social media

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, has taken enforcement action against three social media influencers for repeatedly promoting illegal gambling operators through their online content.

The three individuals identified as Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt were found to have posted videos across social media platforms encouraging viewers to engage with unlicensed gambling providers. This content violated Dutch gambling law by directing audiences to operators without proper licensing in the Netherlands.

Repeat offenders face escalating fines

All three influencers had previously received warnings from the KSA about promoting illegal operators but continued posting prohibited content. The regulator has now given them 48 hours to remove all existing gambling-related material from their social media channels.

The penalty structure includes fines of €25,000 for each violation if new promotional content appears, with a maximum penalty of €75,000 per influencer. This enforcement action forms part of the KSA’s broader campaign to combat illegal gambling promotion targeting younger audiences through social media platforms.

Crackdown on illegal promotion

The penalties represent a continuation of the KSA’s increasingly strict approach to illegal gambling advertising. In July, YouTube influencer LeftlanePapi received similar sanctions for promoting unlicensed gambling operators through his channel, which has over 53,000 subscribers.

The regulator has adopted a two-track enforcement policy where violations result in a 48-hour warning to remove content, followed by financial penalties if compliance fails. The KSA also contacts social media platforms directly to ensure harmful content removal when influencers do not comply.

Market protection

Dutch authorities have identified influencer marketing as a high-risk channel for illegal gambling promotion, particularly concerning content that reaches younger demographics. The regulator argues that such promotion creates pathways for underage or vulnerable users to access prohibited gambling content.

The enforcement action comes at a time when 93% of Dutch players now gamble exclusively with licensed operators, according to a July KSA report. Regulators have credited stronger enforcement measures and increased market oversight for this progress in protecting the legal gambling market.