Betsson loses appeal against €300k Dutch fine
Operator expected to appeal KSA ruling in local district court
Betsson has lost its appeal against the €300,000 fine issued to its Corona subsidiary by the Netherlands Gamling Authority (KSA).
The KSA itself dismissed the appeal, filed back in September, which means Betsson will now take the case to court.
Betsson maintains it should not have been fined because its operations complied with applicable laws and regulations “in the absence of an EU-compliant gambling legislation in the Netherlands”.
The KSA argued the operator was in violation of its prioritisation criteria, likely because it operates the Oranje and Kroon brands and the regulator expressly forbids the use of Dutch-sounding brand names.
Betsson has said it is willing to escalate the appeals process to the European Court of Justice if necessary.
The fine is of particular importance given the language in the recently approved Dutch Remote Gambling Bill which could impose a “cooling off period” on “illegal operators,” including those who have been fined.
The cooling off period would not force Betsson to withdraw from the market, but it would be unable to apply for a license and market its products in the interim.
Betsson is currently appealing a separate ruling by the KSA against one of its affiliate subsidiaries.