The Netherlands’ gaming regulatory body, the Kansspelautoriteit, has directed Catena Media, a prominent entity in the online gambling affiliate marketing realm, to immediately halt all operations within the country.
This directive arises from concerns regarding Catena Media’s promotional tactics for its iGaming platforms, which the authority determined violated Dutch gaming regulations. Catena Media, with headquarters in Malta, has been mandated to cease all current marketing endeavors and is prohibited from initiating any fresh campaigns within the nation. Non-compliance could lead to substantial financial penalties, potentially reaching €21,000.
The crux of the issue centers on Catena Media’s utilization of websites such as pellenoverzicht.com, gokoverzicht.com, and netentcasino.nl to advertise various iGaming providers, specifically targeting players in the Netherlands. These websites are now inaccessible to individuals within the Dutch borders.
This measure aligns with the Netherlands’ more stringent online gambling regulations, enacted in May, which forbid iGaming operators and their affiliates from employing distinctly Dutch visuals, like tulips or windmills, to attract local gamblers. Furthermore, websites using the .nl domain are barred from redirecting Dutch users to .com iGaming sites. Operators who neglect to block traffic originating from the Netherlands also face potential sanctions.
The Netherlands is currently finalizing a comprehensive iGaming legal structure, presently under consideration in the Senate. This framework is anticipated to be enacted into law sometime in 2018.