The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has issued a warning to operator BetMGM for using 17-year-old Barcelona football winger Lamine Yamal in its advertising.
According to Dutch law, gambling advertisements must not use public figures who are likely to appeal to minors, especially sports stars.
The advertisement was created and published by the media team of BetMGM. Although the media company identified the issue promptly and reported it to BetMGM, the operator did not report the violation to the KSA as required. Nevertheless, KSA only issued a warning to BetMGM because the company quickly removed the advertisement and took preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
It is noteworthy that Lamine Yamal has represented the Spanish national team in international competitions since the age of 16 and participated in the European Football Championship final at the age of 17, making his youthful image highly influential.
This incident occurs as the Netherlands is about to end a two-year transition period for sports betting sponsorship. From July 1, 2025, the Netherlands will completely ban gambling sponsorship in sports. The regulatory body stated that it will closely monitor such violations to ensure strict enforcement of the law.
