The Dutch gambling regulator has ordered the Sauber F1 team not to take part in this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix under its recently rebranded title – Stake F1 Team – due to concerns over illegal gambling advertising.
The request comes just days before the event at the Zandvoort track.
The Dutch gambling watchdog, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) said that despite the international operator, which does not hold a Dutch licence, applying a geoblock to ensure its services cannot be accessed by players in the Netherlands, the regulator “still sees participation” with Stake by Dutch players.
It is “undesirable that illegal gambling is advertised at a Dutch event with the reach and size of Formula 1," the KSA said, highlighting attention from "vulnerable groups" such as minors and young adults that the event brings.
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.”
The Stake F1 Team rebrand was announced in January and covers both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
Stake began its work in Formula 1 in 2023 and Stake F1 team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi said the title partnership represented the “natural and exciting next step on this path.”
“2024 will be a new page and the chance to do more, better and reach even farther: we are looking forward to an even more exciting calendar of events in this new season,” he added.
