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Betsson said it has acquired Holland Gaming Technology, an online gambling operator, and Holland Power Gaming, a game studio which develops games for Holland Gaming.
The acquisition, if approved by the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA), would give it a gambling licence in the Netherlands.
Betsson would pay up to €27.5m if all conditions are met, the Stockholm-listed online casino company said on Monday (February 19).
Malta-based Holland Gaming operates the Goldrun Casino online websites and its acquisition would help Betsson toward a goal of operating in more locally regulated jurisdictions, the company said.
Betsson was among operators forced to leave the Dutch market in September 2021, after the government said any operator that wanted to be considered for a future online gambling licence needed to leave completely.
In 2014, it had acquired Oranje and Kroon online casino brands for up to €145m.
But in 2018, its Dutch unit was fined €300,000 by the KSA for providing games of chance to Dutch residents without a licence, a penalty which may have complicated its subsequent efforts to obtain a licence.
Last year it withdrew its Dutch licence application, citing “significant delays” in processing.
In November, Betsson launched sports-betting operations in France.
Longtime Swedish-listed rival Kindred Group is being acquired by France’s FDJ Group.
On Monday, Kindred said the offer period for its shares starts today (February 20), and continues for a maximum of 39 weeks.
Kindred is planning an extraordinary general meeting on March 15 to decide on charter changes that would allow for a share squeeze-out if FDJ acquires 90 percent of the stock.
