Betsson ends Dutch-language promotional activities
Operator's Kroon Casino brand warns affiliates to end all promotional activities in the Dutch language due to potential "legal repercussions"
Betsson’s Netherlands-facing Kroon Casino brand has ceased promoting to customers in the Dutch language as the operator looks to prevent any potential “legal repercussions” in the soon to be regulated market.
In a message sent from the Kroon Affiliates team yesterday, the operator informed partners it would no longer accept on-site promotional banners in Dutch and would only accept those featuring English.
“We have taken the decision to change the policies for any promotion of gambling on our sites to avoid legal repercussion and damage to our reputation,” the message said.
“While we still operate in a legal grey area, we believe that it’s prudent in the current situation to be extra careful not to risk being in breach of any laws,” it added.
Speaking with eGaming Review this morning, Betsson CEO Magnus Silfverberg confirmed the decision had been taken to ensure the operator is compliant ahead of the re-regulation of the Dutch online gambling market.
Kroon advised affiliates to make the changes as quickly as possible and also added that it would not use banners which referred to online gaming sites as a ‘Dutch’ website or with Dutch games and croupiers.
“Affiliate marketing restrictions are specifically not part of the publicised priority criteria of the NGA,” Justin Franssen, head of the gaming department of Kalff Katz & Franssen, said.
“The fact that a number of operators nevertheless take precautionary actions and take proactive measures beyond what is strictly necessary or required demonstrates the positive intentions of the sector and the willingness to apply for licenses in the future regulated market,” he added.
The move comes after the Dutch authorities last year warned operators they could harm their chances of obtaining a licence for the soon-to-be regulated market should they be found guilty of targeting Netherlands-based players.
Last year the Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) fined europacasino.com and titanbet.com operator Imperial E-Club 200,000 after finding them to have used Dutch language options and accepted payments from PayPal’s Dutch-language site.
Both William Hill and 888 have ceased Dutch affiliate marketing activities in the country in recent months with both firms aiming to receive a licence when the market is finally opened.
Earlier this week the regulator announced a deal with various media groups advertising across print media, radio, TV and online to block all advertising from operators who fail to gain a licence when the Remote Gambling Act passes into law.