The curtain falls on the first commercial darts team TOTO Dart Kings
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17 Jun 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Since April 1st, 2025, the curtain has fallen on TOTO Dart Kings. Initiator Chris Woerts is still looking for an alternative sponsor to not let the project go to waste. If the team could still be restarted, it will become clear within a month.
Launched 3 years ago
In May 2022, this team was founded in collaboration with bookmaker TOTO. Even world-class player Michael van Gerwen was part of it, so you know that they had real ambitions. In addition to van Gerwen, the following Dutchmen were also part of it: Dirk van Duijvenbode, Danny Noppert, Vincent van der Voort and Raymond van Barneveld. A year and a half later, another darts player joined the team: Gian van Veen.
The Orka decision supervises advertising activities
In October 2023, the arrival of Gian van Veen became possible because TOTO was already a sponsor. At that time, the Orka decision (Decree on Untargeted Advertising of Remote Gambling) was already in force. Due to this introduction, no new sponsorship contracts could be concluded.
The Orka decision also ensures that gambling operators advertise in a well-considered and balanced manner. But the agreement with TOTO Dart Kings was already concluded before July 1st, 2024, so the arrival of Gian van Veen did not pose any problem.
At the moment, Gian van Veen is participating in the World Cup of Darts for the Netherlands, just like his former teammate Danny Noppert. Gian van Veen told NOS that he regrets the discontinuation of TOTO Dart Kings. This has been the case since April 1st, 2025 because TOTO is no longer allowed to sponsor clubs as of July 1st, 2025 due to the Orka decision.
The ban on gambling advertising caused the discontinuation
Chris Woerts has told NOS that the search for a new sponsor has not yet been given up despite the tight sponsorship market.
If a sponsor is found and the sponsor wants a new approach for the team, this is negotiable. In this way, a British darts player could join the team.
A gambling sponsor would theoretically still be possible, but then the team would have to move abroad. If the team were to move to the United Kingdom, a suitable sponsor on the British market could be a possibility.
Former professional cyclist Bas Tietema (also known from YouTube) announced in October 2024 that he would move his cycling team TDT-Unibet to France after obtaining a French UCI ProTeam license. This allowed Unibet to remain as a sponsor.
A similar story in Dutch football
Perhaps there is still a possibility for a gambling sponsor within the Netherlands itself, as Dutch football faces a similar situation.
Since 2017, TOTO also sponsored the Dutch football cup, which was called the TOTO KNVB Cup. But in this case, the Orka decision also plays a role, so this will change next season.
The KNVB has announced that it has found an alternative sponsor within the same parent company: The Dutch Lottery. Their lottery brand “Eurojackpot” will sponsor both the cup and the highest football division for women.
Because the ban on gambling advertising only applies to online gambling providers, this also allows the VriendenLoterij and Holland Casino (physical locations) to continue as sponsors in the sports sector.
What is the situation in Belgium?
Since January 1st, 2025 stricter rules for sponsoring gambling companies in the sports sector have also applied in Belgium.
These measures present a financial challenge to the budget of sports clubs. As a result, many clubs are compelled to seek new partners in order to compensate for lost income and secure their future.