TLDR:
- Dutch gambling regulator KSA orders removal of Stake branding from F1 Dutch Grand Prix
- Stake lacks license to operate in Netherlands, making its advertising illegal
- Sauber F1 team races as “Stake F1 Team” but must change for Dutch race
- KSA concerned about F1’s popularity exposing minors/young adults to gambling ads
- Sauber likely to race as “Kick F1” to comply with local regulations
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has ordered Formula One to remove all Stake branding from the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, set to take place on August 25, 2024, at Circuit Zandvoort.
This decision comes as Stake, an online casino and betting brand, does not hold a license to operate in the Netherlands.
Stake recently became the title sponsor of the Sauber Motorsports team, which now races under the name “Stake F1 Team.” However, Dutch gambling legislation prohibits unlicensed betting companies from advertising or promoting their services in the country.
The KSA has stated that this ban extends to any form of Stake branding on the team’s vehicles, uniforms, or any other Formula One materials during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
The regulator’s primary concern is the potential exposure of vulnerable groups, particularly minors and young adults, to gambling advertisements. Given Formula One’s immense popularity and the high visibility of team sponsorships, the KSA deemed it necessary to enforce these restrictions.
Despite Stake’s use of geo-blocking measures to prevent Dutch players from accessing its platform, the KSA reports that some users in the Netherlands have still been able to participate in gambling activities on the site. This has further solidified the regulator’s stance on removing Stake’s branding from the event.
For the Sauber team, this situation is not entirely new. They have faced similar advertising restrictions in other countries with strict gambling regulations, such as Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Bahrain, and China. To navigate these challenges, the team has previously raced under an alternative name, “Kick F1,” in certain jurisdictions.
Kick, a streaming platform owned by Stake but not directly involved in gambling or cryptocurrency, complies with advertising rules in countries where gambling promotion is restricted. It is likely that Sauber will adopt this alternative branding for the Dutch Grand Prix to meet local requirements.
The KSA has urged both the Sauber team and the Dutch Grand Prix organizers to comply with these regulations. This means not only removing Stake’s name from the team’s official title but also ensuring that no Stake advertising appears on cars, driver suits, or anywhere else within the race venue.
This move by the Dutch regulator aligns with recent efforts to tighten controls on gambling advertising in the country. In July 2024, the Netherlands implemented new regulations prohibiting untargeted advertising of online gambling, including program and event sponsorship.
