KSA Announces Funding for Four Problem Gambling Education Programs

The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit/KSA) has unveiled financing for four informational projects that will raise awareness of the risks associated with gambling. The money for these projects will come from the KSA’s Addiction Prevention Fund (VPF), which was established in 2021.

KSA Seeks to Raise Awareness of the Risks of Gambling

The Dutch regulator confirmed that it will leverage the VPF to fuel more informational initiatives, in line with its continued commitment to spread awareness of problem gambling. The extra funding in this case will support several programs, including the continuation of an online program designed to teach people to detect problem gambling early, the development of additional materials on gambling as part of the Clear at School program, a program for the prevention of gambling problems among soccer athletes, and the Steffie.nl education portal.

The KSA reasserted that the money for these four initiatives comes from the VPF, which is financed by an additional levy on gambling operators. The fund has several key objectives, including raising awareness of the risks of gambling.

Four Initiatives Will Receive Funding

As mentioned, one of the initiatives is an e-learning early detection initiative developed by Jellinek and GGZ Ecademy. The program is underpinned by many firs-line professionals, including doctors, psychologists and debt counselors who teach people to recognize the early signs of harm. According to the KSA, the extra funding will serve to expand the module’s visibility.

In the meantime, the Clear at School initiative (Helder op School) is a prevention program by the Trimbos Institute. The initiative seeks to promote healthy habits students and teach them of the dangers associated with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling. The project will now be expanded with teaching materials and sessions for parents.

Additionally, the Vereniging van Contractspelers (VVCS), a union representing pro Dutch soccer athletes, will be able to expand its program for the prevention of problem gambling among its members. Thanks to the extra funding, the program will train recovering addicts to become lived experience professionals who help others avoid problem gambling. According to the KSA, the VVCS has also added a new flyer with information about self-exclusion services.

The final initiative that will receive funding is Steffie.nl, an educational platform that provides people with low literacy or mild intellectual disabilities an opportunity to learn. As commissioned by the KSA, Stichting Leer Zelf Online is now working on four modules that will teach Steffie.nl visitors about gambling and gambling addiction.

KSA Says It Is Crucial to Shield Vulnerable Groups

The KSA emphasized that it is very important to get more information out to the public and raise awareness of the risks related to excessive gambling. The regulator added that it is crucial to provide help to vulnerable groups.

In other news, the regulator recently announced that it will double down on its regulatory efforts to crack down on the black market, which has none of the safeguards legal operators do.