Roda JC and Kansspelautoriteit launch 'Wat kost je winst?' aimed at youth betting

Roda JC Kerkrade and the Kansspelautoriteit presented the results of research on how young people engage with sports betting and launched the campaign 'Wat kost je winst?'. The club played once with ‘min-rugnummers’ during the Roda JC – ADO Den Haag match on Friday, February 6, as a visible signal to draw attention to the normalisation of betting among youth. The action is complemented by a regional educational program in Parkstad.

What did the research reveal about youth sports betting?

The joint study commissioned by Roda JC Kerkrade and the Kansspelautoriteit highlights several clear data points. 35% of young adults in the Netherlands consider betting on sports matches to be normal. Among young male football fans, this percentage rises to 50%, and reaches 55% among young Roda JC supporters.

The report also identifies that 4 out of 10 players started betting before turning 18. Many young people believe that their football knowledge increases their chances of winning and expect more winnings than losses. In practice, most bets result in losses: the research indicates that an online player loses on average €118 per month, an amount many young people cannot afford.

Another behavioural fact is that 1 in 4 young people do not talk about their losses due to shame. These silences are one of the reasons Roda JC and the Kansspelautoriteit designed the campaign and educational material.

The campaign 'Wat kost je winst?' and the symbol of the ‘min-rugnummers’ (min-numbers)

The campaign aims to highlight the 'invisible price' of victory in betting and open conversations about tension, control, and unshared losses. During the Roda JC – ADO Den Haag match on Friday, February 6, the club used the so-called ‘min-rugnummers’ on the shirts as a way to provoke questions among fans and the media.

The campaign does not seek to ban or judge; its goal is to raise awareness and foster dialogue among youth, coaches, and families about the associated risks. The use of ‘min-rugnummers’ serves as a visible starting point for these conversations.

"Football revolves around winning and losing. But we see that sports betting is starting to become part of that, especially among young people. Precisely because football is so important to them, as a club, we feel a responsibility to make this topic discussable," said Jordens Peters, CEO of Roda JC.

Educational program in the Parkstad region and collaboration with amateur clubs

Alongside the public campaign, Roda JC and the Kansspelautoriteit have developed an educational program aimed at amateur football clubs in the Parkstad region. The format proposes talks and workshops with youth to explore why betting seems normal and what strategies to manage risk.

Activities in Parkstad include sessions addressing:

• how to identify risk signals in one's behaviour and in peers;

• myths about the advantage of 'football knowledge' against statistical reality;

• resources and support channels for young people who experience losses or develop problems.

Interested local associations can integrate the program into their training and coaching activities.

Practical consequences for clubs and regulators

For clubs like Roda JC, the initiative sets a standard for social responsibility in local sports: launching a campaign and providing training among young fans. For the Kansspelautoriteit, collaboration with a professional club provides access to audiences that conventional regulatory campaigns struggle to reach.

The report offers figures which allow for measuring the extent of the problem: percentages related to perceived normalcy, early initiation of activity, and the average monthly loss of €118. These data serve as a basis for designing concrete interventions and evaluating their impact.

Where to find more information about the campaign and the program

Roda JC and the Kansspelautoriteit have made the results and educational materials available to local clubs and organizations interested in replicating the initiative. The public use of ‘min-rugnummers’ during the Roda JC – ADO Den Haag match is the initial gesture of an activity that will combine communication and training in the Parkstad region.

The joint work underscores the utility of alliances between a regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, and a professional club to address gambling habits among young fans.