Payment service providers in Netherlands may continue processing transactions from internationally licensed gambling websites after the Dutch Council of State (DCS) ruled that the state regulator has no power to stop them from offering their services.

Last week, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) regulatory body announced that the high court granted the appeal of CURO Payments to overturn the decision of an Oost-Brabant court, which prohibited payment processors from extending services to unlicensed iGaming operators.

A disappointed KSA admitted that the ruling was a “major setback” that would make it difficult for them “to take action against online gambling.” The state regulator pointed out that it could no longer appeal their case against CURO.

“The Gaming Authority tries to enforce the law within the current laws and regulations (the Act on games of chance dating from 1964, when the Internet did not yet exist),” read the KSA statement posted on its website. “Further examination of the ruling must show what the consequences are for the enforcement policy of the Gaming Authority. The public goals of this are consumer protection, counteracting illegality and crime and addiction prevention.”