The Netherlands’ Kansspelautoriteit is launching two campaigns aimed at helping families discuss gambling risks and encouraging young adults experiencing harm to use self-exclusion. Announced on November 2, the initiatives combine an OpenOverGokken campaign for parents with separate advertising promoting Gokstop. The regulator said both are intended to make an initial conversation or decision to stop easier.
The parents’ campaign focuses on families with teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 25. It addresses young people’s exposure to gambling through social media, online videos, advertising, and games. The KSA said parents may be unaware of what their children encounter or uncertain about how to raise the subject before a problem develops.
Young people appear in the campaign discussing conversations their parents already have with them about sex and personal safety. Gambling is presented as another subject that families can address openly. Developed by creative agency Noise, the campaign is scheduled to use online video, social media, and display advertising, according to reporting on its rollout.
Gokstop campaign encourages earlier action
The second initiative addresses young adults who are already experiencing gambling problems or face an elevated risk of harm. It also includes relatives and friends, recognizing their role in helping someone take an initial step. The creative approach focuses on everyday situations in which a person can decide to stop, rather than waiting for a major personal crisis.
Gokstop directs people to Cruks, the Netherlands’ central gambling exclusion register. Registration prevents access to gambling websites, casinos, and gaming arcades operating under Dutch licenses. A voluntary exclusion lasts at least six months, and users can select a longer period. The restriction applies across participating gambling channels rather than functioning as a block on just one chosen operator.
The campaigns use existing public information and exclusion services. OpenOverGokken.nl launched in 2025 to provide independent information about gambling and practical help with discussing it. The KSA said earlier Gokstop advertising emphasized life after self-exclusion, whereas the new campaign concentrates on the moment someone decides to register. The November announcement concerns awareness and access to those services, rather than a newly introduced exclusion system.
