Swedish betting giant Betsson has recently withdrawn its bid to secure an online gambling license in the Netherlands. The decision follows noticeable hold-ups in the authorization process, and is detailed in Betsson’s latest Q2 report, issued on July 20th. Betsson is not the only giant to not pursue the Netherlands market as it is rumoured that Flutter’s PokerStars is also out of contention to focus solely on its U.S. operations.
In its pursuit to introduce online betting in the Netherlands through its numerous affiliates, Betsson faced unanticipated slowdowns in obtaining the requisite licensing. Given the time and resource constraints, coupled with the allure of other global opportunities, Betsson felt compelled to pause its Dutch venture. Nonetheless, the company has not ruled out the possibility of returning to this endeavor in the future.
Historically, Betsson has been dormant in the Dutch market for almost two years, having made an exit in September 2021, a day prior to the launch of the country’s regulated iGaming sector. This strategic move was part of a wider trend, as many renowned brands chose to retreat after a policy revision underscored that operators who passively accepted bets from the Dutch public were still subject to a cooling-off period.
By stepping away at that time, Betsson expressed optimism that it would pave the way for a smoother re-entry into the Dutch market once it was fully legalized. The company, like others in the industry, was aware of the risk that offering online gambling services without a license could invite punitive action from the Dutch regulatory body, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). Such measures could potentially pose an obstacle for any future applications to legally operate in the market.