• The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, the KSA, has issued a formal warning that it will strictly enforce its ban on unlicensed gambling sponsorships at the upcoming Dutch F1 Grand Prix.
• Formula 1 teams are prohibited from displaying any branding for gambling companies that do not hold a Dutch licence on their cars, driver suits, or other materials.
• The warning directly impacts several teams with high-profile betting partners, such as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, Red Bull Racing (PokerStars), and Williams (Betway).
• The KSA’s stance is consistent with previous years and is part of the Netherlands’ wider, strict regulations, which also include a general ban on untargeted online gambling advertising.
• The regulator has urged all parties to be vigilant and has warned that displaying branding from unlicensed providers is a clear violation of national law.

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has issued a public reminder to all Formula 1 teams and associated parties that the country’s strict gambling advertising laws will be fully enforced during the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of this month.

In a clear and direct statement, the KSA has reiterated that it is “expressly prohibited to display advertising or other visible materials from gambling providers without a Dutch licence.” The regulator warned that any such display would be considered the promotion of illegal gambling and a direct violation of Dutch law.

High-Profile Partnerships Impacted

This firm stance has direct and immediate consequences for several F1 teams that have high-profile global sponsorship deals with gambling companies. The most notable example is the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. The team, which has a title partnership with the crypto casino Stake, has had to run under a different name and with a modified, brand-free livery in previous races held in jurisdictions with similar advertising restrictions. It will be required to do so again at Circuit Zandvoort.

Other major teams affected by the Dutch rules include:

• Red Bull Racing, which has a partnership with PokerStars.
• McLaren, which is partnered with European lottery giant Allwyn.
• The Williams F1 team, which carries branding from Super Group’s Betway and Jackpot City brands.

The Wider Dutch Advertising Ban

The KSA’s event-specific warning is rooted in one of Europe’s most restrictive regulatory frameworks for gambling advertising. This isn’t a special rule just for F1; it is an application of existing national law.

The Netherlands currently has a general ban on all untargeted advertising for online gambling, which applies even to operators that hold a Dutch licence. The prohibition on advertising from unlicensed companies is absolute.

A Consistent and Uncompromising Stance

The regulator’s warning for the 2025 Grand Prix is consistent with the guidance it has issued in previous years, showing an uncompromising approach to enforcement. “The KSA urges all involved parties to be vigilant and to contact us if they have any doubts about the permissibility of specific materials,” the statement concluded.

The message to global brands and sporting organisations is clear: when operating in the Netherlands, local laws will be strictly applied, regardless of the international nature of the event.