Ksa Regulator: “Popular ‘Share Your Bet’ feature is prohibited”
•
9 Feb 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes What started as a handy extra feature is now officially banned.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) is intervening: the popular “share your bet” function may no longer be offered by online bookmakers.
“Share your bet is advertising with no brakes,” says a Ksa regulator.
The authority warns that this feature can reach vulnerable groups, precisely what the law aims to prevent.
Sharing a gamble with friends? That is no longer allowed
Many sports bettors know the drill: you place a wager and want to share it via a link with your friends, allowing them to see what you bet on and potentially place the same bet. Easy, fun, and until recently, allowed. However, according to the Ksa, this amounts to more than just social sharing.
As soon as a bet can be shared with others, the regulator argues that a form of advertising is created. In the Netherlands, strict rules apply to advertising: it must not reach minors or individuals who are extra sensitive to gambling addiction. With “share your bet,” this cannot be controlled. As an operator, you simply do not know who receives the link.
Advertising must be verifiable
According to the Ksa, operators must always be able to demonstrate that advertising stays neatly within the lines. This is impossible when players distribute bets themselves. Therefore, the feature must disappear effective immediately. Several gambling sites have already heeded the call. It is likely that the feature will soon be unavailable anywhere in the Netherlands.
The warning does not come out of the blue. The Ksa has long pursued a strict policy regarding advertising and high-risk betting. Previously, bets on youth sports matches and dubious betting options were also targeted. The red line is clear: anything that lowers the threshold for vulnerable players will be addressed.
Young people extra sensitive to social features
The regulator is particularly concerned about young people and those who struggle to control their gambling behavior. For these groups, social pressure or herd behavior often acts as a reinforcement. A shared bet via WhatsApp or Instagram might seem innocent, but it can be just the push needed to start gambling again.
For this reason, the Ksa continues to strictly monitor new features. What is technically possible is not always legally permissible. The ban on “share your bet” makes it clear that innovations must also fit within the rules of a safe gambling market.