Push for regulations continues in the Netherlands

Betsson is still fighting to achieve an online gambling regulated market in the Netherlands.

Netherlands.- The Chief Executive of Betsson, Ulrik Bengtsson, said that the operator will continue to fight for its right to be in a fairly regulated market in the Netherlands, despite his negative predictions.

The company has urged the European Commission (EC) to prevent the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the national regulatory body, to take action against some online operators last month, due to a lack of legal justification for such actions. The company released a statement on July 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. The country has been prepping new legislation on the matter but it’s not expected to be ready before the second half of 2018.

During the company’s second quarter reports, Bengtsson said that the political situation in the Netherlands will likely affect an hypothetical online gambling law release, resulting in a push back for 2021, Totally Gaming reported. “I want to reiterate that the current Dutch law is not compliant with EU law. The Commission has warned Holland twice about this and we have now finally complained to the Commission. This is Betsson’s way of saying we need to fight for the right to be regulated.”

“A compliant legal framework would remove the confusion and instability that the actions of the Dutch gaming authority, KSA, are creating for Dutch consumers at present,” added Betsson.