SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Stockholm-listed Betsson AB has confirmed that it will rebrand its two Dutch-facing online casino properties of Oranje Casino and Kroon Casino.
Moving forward, Kroon Casino will operate under its new identity of ‘Casino Winner’, whilst Oranje Casino will be rebranded to ‘Loyal Casino’.
Betsson has operated both online casinos since 2014, forming part of its €40 million acquisition of Oranje and Kroon Maltese operating companies, in a strategic move by Betsson governance to acquire recognised Dutch gambling assets.
Last August, the Netherlands Gaming Authority – Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) sanctioned a €300,000 fine to Betsson Dutch market subsidiary Corona Ltd.
The KSA charged Corona, operating company of Oranje and Kroon casinos of offering/promoted unlicensed gambling services to Dutch consumers.
Betsson governance has appealed the fine, stating that Corona has operated Oranje and Kroon properties under the guidance of EU compliant applicable laws, acting in the absence of Dutch regulations for online gambling.
This February the Netherlands Senate approved the passing of the ‘Remote Gambling Act’, a mandate which will allow the KSA to begin its Dutch licensing window.
However, since the approval ‘Remote Gambling Act’, the KSA has bolstered strengthened its stance against foreign remote operators.
Last March, stating that it would not tolerate ‘cowboys’, the KSA increased its minimum operator fines from €150,000 to €200,000.
Furthermore, issuing a stern warning to European betting leadership, the KSA detailed that it could move to suspend ‘rogue operators’ from applying for Netherlands licenses for a period of two years, should they continue to target Dutch consumers.
