Gaming Authority warns, do not gamble on illegal sites in Apps
The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has launched an investigation into gambling advertisements in gaming apps that refer users to illegal online casinos. This investigation follows reports of misleading and illegal advertising practices. Vulnerable groups such as young people are seduced with fictional stories about quick profits and getting rich without any problems.
Reporting by de Volkskrant revealed the investigation. The regulator took this step after reports from the Reclame Code Commissie (RCC) about misleading and illegal advertising practices. These commercials often portray fictional stories about quick profits and getting rich effortlessly through gambling. This can lead to addiction and financial problems, especially among vulnerable groups such as young people.
A striking example is an advertisement in which a man with suicidal thoughts suddenly finds hope by playing with the app Plinkolor. The commercial suggests that he wins €4,000 and thus gets out of his financial problems. However, after downloading the app, it turns out not to be a game, but an illegal online casino called ZumoSpin.
ZumoSpin and other Illegal casinos
ZumoSpin is part of the Curaçao gambling company Manila Marketing, which is also active with illegal casinos such as B7 Casino and Bruno Casino in the Netherlands. These casinos were already promoted on Facebook last year with fake advertisements for Holland Casino. Little is known about LuckyMax, another illegal online casino promoted through gaming apps.
According to some websites, the Costa Rican company Fortaprime SRL is responsible for this gambling site. Fortaprime SRL is affiliated with BetSpino and Justbit, two casinos of the Casbit Group that were fined by the Ksa in April 2024.
How do illegal casinos bend the rules?
The illegal casinos that operate through gaming apps circumvent the strict rules of Apple and Google in various ways. For example, apps are initially offered for approval as games, after which the game is quickly replaced by an online casino after approval.
In addition, apps are being developed that show different content in different countries. For example, in the United States an app can be a real game, while in the Netherlands the same app redirects users to an illegal online casino. False company data is also used to comply with Apple and Google requirements. For example, a manufacturer of doors and frames is said to be the provider behind one of the apps examined. However, the owner of this company denied any involvement in the gambling app.
Gaming Authority takes action
The Ksa takes illegal gambling advertisements in gaming apps very seriously. Following the reports from the RCC, an investigation has been launched to identify those responsible behind these practices and to take appropriate measures.
The Ksa warns consumers about the dangers of illegal online casinos and emphasizes the importance of only gambling on sites with an official Dutch license. Gambling on illegal sites comes with risks such as addiction, identity fraud and withdrawal problems.