Betsson complains to the EU about Netherlands

The Swedish Gaming operator, Betsson in a one-page press release that appeared on its corporate website on Friday, has announced that it has written to the European Commission outlining what it calls “the continued breach by the Dutch authorities of EU law”.

The action follows the five-year delay from Holland to pass laws to bring its gambling regulatory framework in line with EU requirements and follows new stricter rules regarding unlicensed operators serving Dutch players that came into effect in June.

Ulrik Bengtsson, CEO and President of Betsson AB, said on the press release: “Betsson view the ongoing confusion in the Dutch market as unacceptable. We have therefore submitted an official complaint to the European Commission. The current law in the Netherlands is not in line with EU law and we have therefore asked the Commission to re-open the infringement proceedings that were initiated against the Netherlands in 2006”

Betsson also decried the Dutch gaming regulators Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) for overstepping their bounds: “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. In addition, Betsson trusts the Commission to ensure that the KSA immediately refrains from continued enforcement of a law, which has already been the subject of infringement proceedings by the Commission.”