Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued its first fine to a gambling influencer on Youtube, LeftlanePapi.
The KSA said that it has seen an increase in the number of reports of influencers posting images and videos linked to illegal gambling on various social media platforms, adding that it takes these reports “very seriously” because influencers can appeal to a young target group.
Social media channels that post harmful content are given 48 hours to remove the content, or face penalty sanctions.
YouTuber LeftlanePapi is one of the first influencers to be warned by the KSA after he posted videos with live streams of online gambling from illegal operators such as Skyhills.com, which also encouraged viewers to play on the site.
The content was not removed after the warning from the KSA, prompting the penalty payment order.
The regulator has ordered LeftlanePapi to immediately cease distributing, promoting and streaming or playing illegal games of chance via YouTube and other social media platforms, subject to a penalty of €25,000 per violation, up to a maximum of €75,000.
“With its new approach, the KSA opts for a two-track policy,” said the Netherlands gambling regulator. “After establishing a violation, influencers will receive a message that they must stop their activities within 48 hours and that illegal content must be removed. If the influencer does not do so, the KSA will approach the social media platform so that the harmful content is removed in any case.”