KSA Warns 711 Casino Over Ad Placement on School Website

In a serious breach of advertising rules, 711 Casino has come under fire from Dutch gambling regulator KSA. The operator’s ads were found on a homework website targeting primary school children — a clear violation of Dutch law. While 711 claims to have taken corrective action internally, the Kansspelautoriteit emphasized that legal obligations extend beyond detection. The regulator issued a formal warning, reinforcing that all gambling ads must be proactively monitored and immediately reported.

Dutch Regulator Warns 711 Casino for Advertising on Primary School Website

Key Points:

1. 711 Casino was warned after its ads appeared on a children’s homework site, violating Dutch advertising laws.
2. Although 711 had already taken internal steps, it failed to report the issue to the regulator, as required.
3. The KSA warned that all gambling ads must comply with law — even when outsourced to third parties.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch Gambling Authority, has formally warned 711 Casino (711 BV) after its advertisements were discovered on a website designed for primary school homework assignments. The incident was brought to light by a concerned parent, prompting an official regulatory response.

This breach strikes at the heart of one of the most sensitive areas in gambling regulation — the protection of minors and vulnerable groups. Dutch law explicitly prohibits gambling advertisements in spaces where children or young adults are likely to be exposed.

The KSA described the incident as a “serious violation,” stating:

“This form of advertising is considered by the KSA to be very harmful and therefore a serious breach of the rules.”

Root Cause: Outsourced Advertising Mismanagement

An investigation revealed that the advertising campaign was managed by an external marketing partner hired by 711. This third-party vendor had placed banners on multiple websites, some of which had content aimed at or accessible to children.

Although 711 acknowledged it had already identified the inappropriate ad placements and had started taking internal corrective actions, the company failed to notify the KSA — a legal obligation under Dutch gambling regulations.

According to the KSA:

“It remains the responsibility of providers to comply with the laws and regulations when they outsource advertising campaigns to external parties. Incidents must also be reported immediately.”

Why This Matters

This case highlights a recurring issue in the gambling industry: compliance accountability doesn’t end with outsourcing. Operators remain fully responsible for the marketing tactics used on their behalf, even when third-party agencies are involved.

The regulator decided not to issue a fine but instead delivered a formal warning, citing 711’s proactive measures as mitigating factors. However, it was clear in its stance:

“If violations occur in the field of advertising, the KSA can take enforcement action, even if an external partner is involved.”

This warning follows a similar notice issued to Gamusoft, an operator facing penalties of up to €280,000 per week for offering illegal gambling services accessible from the Netherlands. These back-to-back warnings indicate a renewed wave of enforcement activity from the KSA.

The Larger Picture: Ad Compliance in a Strict Regulatory Market

The Netherlands has one of Europe’s most closely watched gambling advertising environments. Since the legalization of online gambling in October 2021, the KSA has tightened its rules regarding responsible marketing, especially involving youth exposure and social media promotions.

Operators must:

• Avoid targeting minors directly or indirectly

• Ensure all affiliate and marketing partners follow KSA advertising guidelines

• Immediately report any breach or irregularity, even if self-detected

Furthermore, the KSA encourages the public to report questionable gambling activity through a dedicated complaint form available on its official website.

The 711 Casino case underscores a critical compliance lesson for all gambling operators: outsourcing doesn’t equal immunity. While 711’s internal vigilance helped prevent more widespread exposure, its failure to report the violation triggered regulatory scrutiny. As the Dutch gambling market matures, operators must treat advertising with the same rigor as licensing — or face the consequences. In today’s regulatory climate, transparency and swift action are not optional; they are mandatory pillars of responsible iGaming operations.