Dutch court denies Betsson injunction against regulator
Operator had sought local injunction against KSA’s new enforcement policies
A Dutch court has ruled against Betsson and its claims the new enforcement policy of the country’s gambling authority (KSA) is illegal.
The Swedish firm sought a legal injunction against the KSA after it announced a stringent new policy in June restricting operators from targeting local players and using Dutch-sounding brand names.
Speaking to EGR, Betsson’s VP of corporate communications Pia Rosin, said the operator had not yet decided if it will appeal against the case.
Rosin also said the ruling “does not change the way Betsson subsidiaries operate”.
Following the ruling the KSA said online gambling has always been illegal in the Netherlands and it would continue to enforce its policies.
Betsson operates Dutch brands Kroon Casino and Oranje Casino, after having acquired them in 2014 for €130m, under the KSA’s previous criteria.
Since then, Dutch market liberalisation has faced various set-backs, including the remote gambling bill not being passed by the Senate.
In July Betsson also called on the European Commission to re-open court proceedings against the KSA, as it claimed the new policies were not compliant with EU law.