KSA Warned Dutch Grand Prix and Team Sauber Not to Promote Illegal Games of Chance

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, has issued a warning to Team Sauber and the Dutch Grand Prix organizers to avoid promoting Stake during the F1 race in Zandvoort, as Stake operates without a valid Dutch license. The event took place on August 25, marking the fifteenth round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship.

The Warning Came One Week Before the Race

Team Sauber and Stake extended their partnership in June. On August 20, the KSA released a statement clarifying that Stake “does not have a license from the KSA and is therefore not allowed to offer games of chance in the Netherlands.”

The KSA emphasized several key points:

• Any form of advertising Stake is considered illegal.

• Despite Stake’s efforts, Dutch players could still register and gamble.

• It was “undesirable” for an event as high-profile as Formula 1 to feature the Stake brand.

The regulator suggested using an alternative team name, such as Kick Sauber. However, during the race, Stake’s logos remained visible on both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu’s cars, leading to speculation that the warning was ignored.

This wasn’t Stake F1’s first controversy — similar restrictions have applied in:

• Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE

• China and Bahrain

• Other jurisdictions with strict gambling laws

In these regions, the team has raced under alternative branding, such as Kick F1.

Stake’s Partnership With Team Sauber

After Alfa Romeo ended its sponsorship, Stake became Sauber’s main partner, with the collaboration starting in 2022 and extending in December 2023.

The partnership details include:

• Stake initially acted as co-title partner in 2023.

• The deal expanded to make Stake the sole title sponsor.

• The streaming platform Kick gained naming rights on the car chassis.

The team will continue to compete under “Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber” until the 2026 season, after which it will rebrand as Audi.

Dutch Grand Prix – Winners and Highlights

Ironically, the team embroiled in sponsorship controversy ended up at the bottom of the results table.

• Valtteri Bottas finished 19th.

• Zhou Guanyu finished 20th.

• Lando Norris won the race with a 1:30:45.519 finish time.

• Max Verstappen came in second, and Charles Leclerc placed third.

Fastest Laps:

• Norris: 1:13.817

• Lewis Hamilton: 1:13.878 (finished 8th)

Despite the KSA’s clear stance, the visibility of Stake’s branding at the Dutch Grand Prix reignited debates over gambling sponsorships in global sports — a tension that continues to challenge regulators and racing teams alike.