Unibet Owner Hit With €4 million Fine By Dutch Regulator

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has imposed a record fine of €4 million on Unibet for their failure to comply with their duty of care to gamblers.

In July 2022, the KSA began an investigation into Unibet, operated by Optdeck Service Limited, a Malta-based company. The regulator’s scrutiny was prompted by alarming reports of excessive gambling behaviour among certain users of the platform. The investigation focused on ten specific gamblers who exhibited clear signs of addiction, including significant financial losses and prolonged gaming sessions.

Key Findings of the Investigation

The KSA’s findings revealed several shortcomings in Unibet’s approach to player protection:

• Inadequate Monitoring: The automated and manual reviews of player behaviour were often insufficient. Many users who triggered intervention alerts were allowed to continue gambling despite their escalating losses.
• Delayed Interventions: In instances where Unibet did intervene, the actions taken were often delayed by weeks, failing to address the immediate risks posed to vulnerable players.
• Superficial Engagement: When interventions occurred, they frequently consisted of minimal engagement, such as closed questions about the player’s enjoyment of the game, rather than a thorough assessment of their gambling habits.

Legal Obligations of Gambling Operators

Licensed gambling operators in the Netherlands are legally required to act swiftly when they identify signs of gambling addiction. This includes:

• Timely Interventions: Operators must take immediate action to protect players showing signs of excessive gambling.
• Comprehensive Assessments: Personal interviews should delve deeper into a player’s financial situation and gambling behaviour.
• Support Resources: Operators are obligated to provide information about addiction support services to their customers.

The Importance of Duty of Care

The KSA emphasised that gambling operators have a duty of care to their players. This responsibility extends beyond merely offering games; it encompasses ensuring that players are not harmed by their gambling activities. The KSA’s chair, Michel Groothuizen, stated, “When there are signs of excessive gambling behaviour and someone wagers a large amount of money in a short period of time, a provider must promptly investigate the source of the money.”

Unibet’s Response to the Fine

In response to the KSA’s findings, Optdeck Service Limited argued that it had the discretion to determine its addiction prevention protocols. The company maintained that it focused on the player’s personal responsibility and claimed that the investigation covered a period shortly after the licensing of its operations in the Netherlands.

While the KSA acknowledged that Unibet had implemented some measures to improve its practices following the investigation, these changes were deemed insufficient to negate the violations that had occurred.