Betsson subsidiary appeals €300k Dutch fine

Corona Ltd, a subsidiary of Betsson Group, has appealed a fine issued by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) for operating in the country without the relevant licence.

Last month, Corona was fined €300,000 (£267,100/$349,100) after the KSA completed an investigation into the firm and its Oranje and Kroon brands.

The KSA had also probed other Betsson entities but did not uncover any further violations and no other action was taken.

At the time, Pia Rosin, vice-president of corporate communications at Betsson, told iGamingBusiness.com Corona was able to appeal the ruling, and it has now been confirmed that the company has opted to pursue this option.

In a statement, Corona said 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”.

Should Corona fail in its appeal with the regulator, the company intends to refer the matter to a court of law.

“Pending the procedures, the sanction will not become irrevocable,” Corona added in its statement. 

Pontus Lindwall (pictured), chief executive of Betsson, also said: “Betsson share KSA’s ambition to achieve a high channelisation of customers into a future locally regulated environment in the Netherlands.”

Betsson did not immediately respond to a request from iGamingBusiness.com to comment further on the story.

Betsson acquired Corona in 2014 in anticipation of the re-regulation of the Dutch online gaming market, which had been scheduled to take place 2015.

However, while the lower house of the Dutch parliament approved the Remote Gaming Bill in 2016, this is still awaiting Senate approval.

In June, the country’s coalition government stated its intention to push ahead with the process, with the aim of introducing new regulations by 2020.