Ahead of the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix this Sunday (25 August), the country’s Gaming Authority has ordered Formula One to remove any advertising of Stake.
De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) – the Dutch gaming authority – placed its ruling on Stake as the online casino and betting brand does not have a licence in the country and is therefore now allowed to offer its services there.
This is significant as Stake is the title name of the ‘Stake F1 Team’ after agreeing a deal with Formula One to become the title sponsor of the Sauber Motorsports manufacturer.
This subsequently means that Stake’s name will be ordered to be removed for when the team takes to the track this weekend in Zandvoort, along with any other form of Stake branding from the team or Formula One.
It is prohibited in the Netherlands under its gambling legislation for any betting or gaming company to offer games of chance without a licence, as well as advertise those same games or to promote them.
The KSA outlined that this means companies like Stake must apply measures, such as geoblocking, for Dutch players to not be able to access its platform, which the gambling authority reveals it has still seen participation of Dutch players on the platform.
Due to Formula One’s large popularity and a stage for enhanced promotional visibility, the KSA also deemed that the Grand Prix this weekend would attract the attention of vulnerable groups – minors or young adults – to Stake’s branding.
Stake is in the first year of its two-year agreement with Formula One and the Sauber team for its title sponsorship rights.
It now remains unclear what the team name will be for the Dutch Grand Prix if the KSA’s order is enforced. It may include Sauber’s other title sponsor ‘Kick’ to take on more precedence than Stake.
This was alluded to by planetF1.com earlier this year, highlighting the various gambling authorities’ stance on illegal firms advertising in their respective countries.
