Betsson calls for control over Dutch regulator

Nordic operator Betsson has exhorted the European Commission to take action against the Dutch regulator’s actions over online operators.

Netherlands.- Despite the new Dutch online gambling legislation not being ready yet, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the national regulatory body, has taken action against some online operators. Betsson, nordic operator running Oranje and Kroon brands, has urged the European Commission (EC) to prevent the local body to do so, due to a lack of legal justification for such actions.

The company released a statement on Friday in which it reminded EC’s suspension over infringement proceedings against the Netherlands ten years ago, regarding Dutch’s plans to adopt an online gambling policy more respectful of EU rules, CalvinAyre reported. The country has been prepping new legislation on the matter but it’s not expected to be ready before the second half of 2018.

Betsson argues that the KSA’s recent measures against EU-licensed operators is reason enough for the EC to reopen its former infringement proceedings. The company says the regulatory body has failed to adopt a new “fair and transparent” online gambling policy and that’s reason enough to do so.

The company claims that Oranje and Kroon “have been in line with the prioritisation criteria” introduced by the KSA in 2012, but it has changed regulation “without any legal basis.” Therefore, the online operator said it will continue to operate under that former criteria and will not change operations further “as the change in policy has no legal basis.”

The KSA has issued some six-figures fines against operators that are allegedly acting without permission but hasn’t been able to collect them so far. Marja Appelman, body’s CEO, issued a statement last week calling on her counterparts in other EU countries to present a “European solution” for collecting fines from operators.