KSA urges F1 to remove Stake advertising ahead of Dutch Grand Prix
Sauber races internationally under the ‘Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber’ banner, with the Netherlands Gambling Authority calling on the team to remove mentions of the crypto-centric operator
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has called on F1 organisers to ban the promotion of Australia-based operator Stake during the Dutch Grand Prix.
The event, due to take place on 25 August in Zandvoort, will see the Sauber F1 team represented by drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu compete.
Sauber now races under the moniker ‘Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber’ with the operator serving as the team’s title sponsor.
Stake obtained the naming rights for the team back in January, signing a two-year sponsorship deal for the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons.
Stake doesn’t currently hold a licence to operate within the Netherlands, and therefore has to apply geoblocks to stop Dutch players from gambling on its platforms.
However, the KSA said it still sees the Dutch Grand Prix as an opportunity for Stake to promote its offering in the country and wants F1 organisers to intervene.
A KSA statement said: “Despite the measures taken by Stake, the KSA still sees participation by Dutch players. The KSA therefore finds it undesirable that illegal gambling is advertised at a Dutch event with the reach and size of F1, also because the event attracts a lot of attention among vulnerable groups.
“The board of the KSA has therefore urgently requested both Sauber and the organisation of the Dutch Grand Prix not to drive under the name Stake and not to advertise for this provider.”
Despite the KSA’s stance, Stake has previously noted that in countries where gambling advertising is prohibited it would switch its name on race days to Kick Sauber.
Kick is the streaming platform which sits alongside Stake in under the wider Easygo umbrella.
KSA chair Michel Groothuizen has previously spoken of his frustration that the regulator has to ask unlicensed operators to cease their operations, rather than having the power to force them to do so.
Earlier this month, Stake obtained a licence for the newly regulated Peru market to continue its expansion into Latam.
EGR has contacted Stake for comment.