Betsson Appealing Fine for Dutch Subsidiary

Betsson AB is asking Dutch gaming regulators to take another look at a €300,000 they’ve imposed on one of its local subsidiaries. At question is a penalty that Corona Ltd. incurred while allegedly serving Dutch punters without securing the proper licensing from Dutch authorities. It’s a case that cleanly illustrates that messy challenges gaming operators face when marketing their products to international markets.
The Sweden-based operator launched the appeal process earlier this week with the Dutch gaming regulator known as Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) on behalf of Corona Ltd. In its appeal, the company suggests that Corona was well within its rights to market to the Dutch people because gaming regulations in Holland aren’t EU-compliant in the first place. The company commented on the case (in corporate-speak) saying that it, “…maintains its prior position that its operations comply with applicable laws and regulations in the absence of an EU-compliant gambling legislation in the Netherlands.”
The core of Corona Ltd.’s alleged transgressions against Dutch gaming laws and norms revolve around statements made on the company’s websites that could lead Dutch gamblers to believe that Corona is actually licensed to do business with the Dutch. One such statement is a button that takes players to, “most popular payment method in Holland,” which happens to be the Dutch e-commerce company, IDEAL.
This isn’t the first time that Betsson has gone head-to-head with the KSA and it’s not a look that investors are liking very much. According to a report on CalvinAyre.com, a group of Scandanavian investors is warning that the KSA feud could hurt the company’s chances of ever actually receiving a Dutch gaming license.