Impact of Dutch Remote Gambling Act on Professional Football

This article outlines the possibilities and requirements for the establishment of online football and sports betting under the new (draft) regulations, as well as the conditions under which sponsorship and advertising related to football and sports (betting) will be permitted.

Introduction

In Europe, betting companies are a significant sponsor of professional football clubs and organisations. Half of Premier League clubs, 17 of the 24 English Championship clubs and 8 of the 20 LaLiga clubs have a betting company as their shirt sponsor.

This situation differs in the Netherlands, where gambling legislation currently does not allow for new gambling operators to acquire a licence. As such, the licensing system is effectively closed, meaning there are only a limited number of licensed operators and no new licences are being granted. Currently, online and land-based sports betting may only be offered by one operator, Toto (part of the Dutch Lottery). Due to this closed system, endorsement and sponsorship deals with betting companies - such as shirt or sponsorship or...

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