• The Dutch gambling authority (KSA) has taken firm action against three social media influencers for the promotion of illegal gambling providers in the Netherlands.
• The influencers, identified as Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt, are all repeat offenders who have been previously warned or penalised by the regulator for similar violations.
• The KSA has ordered them to remove the offending content within 48 hours or face escalating fines of up to a maximum of €75,000 each.
• The move is part of an intensifying crackdown by the Dutch regulator on affiliate marketing for the black market, following a similar fine against another influencer in July.
• This strict enforcement on illegal gambling promotion comes as the KSA also launches a separate investigation into the behavioural influence techniques used by licensed operators.

A Hard Line on Black Market Promotion

The Dutch gambling authority (KSA) has escalated its fight against illegal gambling, taking direct enforcement action against three social media influencers for promoting unlicensed betting platforms to their followers. The move is a clear signal of the regulator’s intent to crack down on the marketing channels that support the black market.

The three influencers, known by their online handles Stiefunspeelt, Turcos, and Buurtwachtt, were found to have posted videos showing gameplay on unlicensed sites and encouraging their followers to participate.

Targeting Repeat Offenders

A key factor in the KSA’s decision to act is that all three individuals are repeat offenders. Having already faced previous warnings or penalties for similar promotional activities, the Dutch regulator has now adopted a tougher stance.

The KSA has issued an order requiring them to remove all illegal content within 48 hours. If they fail to comply, or if new content promoting illegal gambling appears, they will face a penalty of €25,000 for each violation, up to a potential maximum of €75,000.

Part of a Wider Enforcement Push

This action is part of a consistent and widening crackdown on affiliate marketing for the black market in the Netherlands. In July, the KSA also fined another YouTube influencer, LeftlanePapi, for similar illegal promotions. The regulator is making it clear that it holds individuals with a public reach responsible for the content they promote.

While the KSA recently reported a high channelisation rate of 93% to the legal market, these enforcement actions show it is aggressively policing its borders to protect its licensed operators from black market competition.

Scrutiny on All Forms of Influence

The KSA’s focus on how players are influenced isn’t limited to the black market. The regulator also recently announced a new, separate investigation into the techniques that licensed operators use to influence player behaviour.

This dual approach sends an unambiguous message to the entire iGaming industry. The Dutch gambling authority is intensely focused on all forms of marketing, promotion, and player engagement. The aggressive action against these influencers is a clear warning to the entire affiliate marketing ecosystem that promoting illegal gambling in the Netherlands will have severe and escalating financial consequences.