The Dutch KSA has fined Unibet a record €4 million for violating responsible-gaming rules

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) is imposing a fine on Optdeck Service Limited for failing to meet its duty of care between 14 July 2022 and 1 July 2024. Optdeck operates gambling services in the Netherlands under the Unibet brand. Gambling companies are required to protect players as much as possible from excessive participation and the development of gambling addiction. According to the KSA, Optdeck failed to fulfil this duty of care and will be fined €4,000,000.

The KSA requested various player files from Optdeck and found that all of them showed violations of duty-of-care principles. For example, players depositing €1000+ per day were not promptly informed about signs of problematic gambling behaviour, and income verification was requested only weeks later — by which time players had already suffered substantial losses. In addition, the measures taken were insufficient, such as a simple pop-up message that could be dismissed instantly. Moreover, during financial checks, Optdeck accepted sources of income not permitted by the KSA, such as corporate accounts.

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA), stated: “If there are signs of excessive gambling behaviour, and someone is wagering large amounts of money in a short period of time, the provider must immediately verify the source of those funds. This can be done by requesting income information. It is crucial that providers conduct this analysis properly, as not all financial resources may be eligible. The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) takes violations of duty-of-care obligations very seriously and will continue to take strict action against them.”

Recent examples of similar KSA enforcement actions

1. BetCity was fined €2.65 million in 2025 for failing to meet its duty of care obligations. The regulator found that the operator did not intervene despite clear signs of excessive losses among young players.

2. GoldWin Limited received a €6.8 million penalty in 2023–2024 for offering gambling services without a Dutch licence, one of the largest fines issued during KSA’s crackdown on illegal operators.

3. Another anonymous licensed operator was fined €734,000, though its name was not disclosed due to a court injunction preventing KSA from publishing the company’s identity.

Conclusion

These cases illustrate how aggressively the KSA now enforces duty-of-care rules and licensing requirements across the Dutch market. Operators that fail to protect players or comply with regulatory standards face increasingly severe financial and reputational consequences.