In the fight against illegal online casinos, VNLOK believes it’s important to inform the public about reports received by Meld Vals Spel. They also believe politicians should be aware of how illegal casinos operate in the Dutch market.
In a press release they therefore show a visual representation of what the registered reports are about.
Meld Vals Spel is important initiative in the battle against illegal providers
The VNLOK trade association established this reporting center to gain a clear understanding of the working methods and scale of illegal providers, with the aim of taking more decisive action.
Many fake ads, especially on social media and news websites, direct players to illegal websites. By reporting these scams, players can inform others about the misleading ads, who these providers are and how they approach players.
235 reports registered about illegal gambling sites
Since its launch, Meld Vals Spel has registered no fewer than 235 reports of illegal gambling sites in the Dutch market. Frank Kruit, who works for the Dutch website MeneerCasino, assisted them in processing these reports.
On his LinkedIn page, he shares information about how rogue companies are exploiting their opportunities and even attempting to manipulate Google results. While it’s impossible for illegal sites to rank highly in Google, Frank adds that as long as these parties have free rein, they can continue to use rogue SEO techniques.
Illegal gambling sites use various techniques to attract visitors
Research shows that a quarter of gamblers don’t know whether they’re gambling legally or illegally. These are alarming figures, and VNLOK notes two striking trends in the reports:
- Reviews on Trustpilot and Google are being manipulated using fake profiles that leave false reviews to give the impression that rogue providers are trustworthy.
- And what’s even more remarkable is that websites are being hacked or acquired and then used as illegal affiliates. This is reportedly happening with former government websites, among others.
They also abuse existing brands of legitimate websites. This is called cloaking, a technique in which different content is displayed to visitors and search engines. They attempt to deceptively rank a site in search results or conceal malicious content. This makes it possible to circumvent checks by Google, Meta and the Kansspelautoriteit.
Following up on reports is crucial to fight illegal providers
Because illegal providers use all sorts of tricks, players sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between legal and illegal websites. That’s why VNLOK chairman Björn Fuchs calls it crucial that reports are followed up.
Björn Fuchs:
“We see how sophisticated illegal gambling sites are in masquerading as trustworthy entities. This makes it nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference. That’s why it’s crucial that reports are followed up quickly and that illegal operators are dealt with more rigorously.”
Politicians must be aware of the practices of illegal gambling sites
Björn Fuchs emphasizes the importance of politics, especially when it addresses vulnerable target groups.
Björn Fuchs:
“With Prinsjesdag behind us and the elections ahead, it is important that politicians realize how harmful illegal practices are. Not only to vulnerable consumers, but also to trust in het legal market and, ultimately, to the state treasury. High gambling taxes and increasing restrictions on legal providers are driving players into the hands of illegal operators. Give the Kansspelautoriteit the tools to take strong action and block illegal gambling websites and their affiliates immediately. And ensure that the legal market remains attractive and visible, so that players can more easily find their way to safer providers.”
What are the notifications?
The chairman prioritizes safety, along with visibility for the legal market, so that players can find the right path more quickly.
Curious about the reports coming in? They provide an infographic that shows exactly what’s happening.