On september 18, 2025, the Kansspelautoriteit met with the VVCS (Vereniging van contractspelers) to discuss the risks of gambling and match-fixing in football.
What does the VVCS association stand for?
The VVCS stands for Vereniging van Contractspelers, a Dutch union that represents the interests of professional football players. They offer support in negotiations and agreements, and they also provide guidance and training for players.
This association is close to professional footballers of all ages and talks with them about their careers, their mental well-being, and the dangers of gambling. The VVCS is concerned that players could be approached to manipulate matches and that bets could be placed in the locker rooms.
What is match-fixing?
If the outcome of a sporting event is completely or partially determined by, for example, a participant (player, coach, or referee) who deliberately loses or cheats, we are dealing with match-fixing, and the sports fan is being deceived.
The risks associated with match-fixing are that setting up such an operation can be the result of bribery, fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering. Criminal influences such as the gambling mafia and corruption within sports governing bodies can thus undermine the integrity of the sporting world. Players can be so blackmailed and experience so much stress that they are afraid to even report an attempt.
Wwft stands for “Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme”
In the Netherlands, casinos are required to comply with the rules laid down in the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft) to prevent these situations. Lawyers, notaries, banks, and real estate agents are also required to report suspicious transactions.
For the Ksa, the Wwft is therefore essential for combating criminals. We have a similar system in Belgium.
Collaboration creates connection
VVCS has already partnered with Unibet, Holland Casino, and the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association), to create the “Red Button App” which makes reporting match-fixing easier. They also conduct an information project on gambling addiction. This project is part of four information initiatives funded by the Kansspelautoriteit through the Verslavingspreventiefonds. The goal is to help prevent addiction.
The Ksa is therefore happy to support the information provided by the VVCS to footballers, so that the message is made concrete in the form of additions such as the prohibited betting offer, risky matches and the ban on betting on one’s own matches.
Creating more awareness is essential
Their shared goal is to raise awareness of the risks of betting on sports events and to prevent match-fixing. After all, the outcome of a match should never be manipulated. A sporting event should be an entertaining spectacle without certain factors influencing the outcome through cheating.It is precisely by working together that they can share their knowledge and not only optimally reach the target group, but also try to ensure that such scenarios can be avoided.