Dutch Football Club Roda JC Partners with Regulator on Youth Betting Awareness

Dutch Eerste Divisie club Roda JC will wear special "minus squad numbers" during their match against ADO Den Haag on February 6, marking the launch of a joint awareness campaign with the Kansspelautoriteit targeting youth sports betting.

Research Reveals Normalisation of Sports Betting Among YouthJoint research commissioned by Roda JC and the Dutch gambling regulator has uncovered concerning trends in youth attitudes toward sports betting:

35% of young adults in the Netherlands consider sports betting normalAmong male young adult football fans, this rises to 50%55% of young adult Roda JC supporters view sports betting as normal4 in 10 bettors started gambling on sports before turning 18The research also found that many young people mistakenly believe their football knowledge increases their chances of winning, when in reality most bets result in losses. Online gamblers lose an average of €118 per month, and notably, 1 in 4 young people avoid discussing their losses due to shame.

Campaign Aims to Start ConversationsThe "Wat kost je winst?" (What does your win cost?) campaign aims to create awareness rather than prohibit betting. The minus signs on squad numbers during the match symbolise the "invisible price" behind every win.

"Football is about winning and losing. But we see that sports betting is increasingly part of that, especially among young people," said Jordens Peters, Roda JC General Director. "Because football is so important to them, we feel a responsibility as a club to make this topic discussable."

Regional Education ProgrammeBeyond the awareness campaign, an educational programme will launch in the Parkstad region, working with amateur football clubs to discuss sports betting risks with young players.