The Dutch gambling authority has imposed a €4 million sanction on Optdeck Service Limited, the company behind Unibet in the Netherlands, after concluding that the operator failed to comply with mandatory player-protection rules over a two-year period. The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) said Optdeck did not meet its duty of care between July 14, 2022, and July 1, 2024, a requirement intended to limit excessive gambling and help prevent addiction.

The regulator reviewed several player files, including cases involving individuals who recorded the largest losses during the assessed period. Every file, according to the Ksa, showed similar problems: Optdeck did not intervene when gambling behavior signaled clear financial risk. Multiple customers deposited large sums—sometimes thousands of euros in a single day—without the operator promptly examining whether these stakes were sustainable.

The Ksa said income checks were frequently requested only weeks after risky behavior had already been detected, by which time players had suffered major financial harm. This pattern aligned with findings across the reviewed files, including those requested in an earlier assessment of ten high-loss accounts.

The regulator also concluded that implemented safeguards were insufficient. In several cases, interventions amounted to a brief pop-up message that players could easily dismiss. Additionally, the company included financial sources that are not allowed under Dutch rules when assessing affordability, such as money from business accounts.

Ksa chair Michel Groothuizen emphasized the importance of timely and accurate financial assessments. In the Dutch-language ruling, he said: “When there are signs of excessive gambling behavior and someone wagers a very large amount of money in a short period of time, a provider must investigate the source of the money in a timely manner. This can be done by requesting income information. It is essential that providers carry out this analysis properly, because not all financial resources may simply be counted. The Ksa takes violations of the duty of care very seriously and will continue to take firm action against them.”

Fine Follows Earlier Enforcement Actions

The €4 million fine adds to a series of regulatory measures directed at Optdeck this year. In September, the operator faced a €450,000 penalty after the Ksa found that Unibet had offered football wagers not permitted in the Netherlands. These bets involved matches with players under 21 as well as markets on corner kicks and yellow cards—categories banned under national integrity and youth-protection rules.

Regulators identified more than 200 under-21 matches in which prohibited betting options were available, including fixtures such as Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Southampton in October 2023 and Sunderland vs. Bristol City in February 2024. Although Unibet stated in December 2024 that it had removed these types of bets, the Ksa later confirmed their continued availability during the Chelsea vs. Manchester United match on May 15, 2025. The September fine was imposed on August 19 and made public early the following month.

Optdeck also received two formal warnings in June for issues involving advertising and autoplay functionality. One warning related to a Unibet-branded team coach associated with the Dutch cycling team Unibet Tietema–Rockets. The vehicle, intended only for domestic team transport, was used in other settings, resulting in a breach of the country’s ban on untargeted gambling promotion. Optdeck told the regulator it had been unaware of the vehicle’s broader use and noted that fully overseeing sponsored activity can be challenging.

Earlier this year the brand also received a hefty fine in Australia, worth 1 million dollars, because the local regulator found that the operator, Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, neglected to promptly deactivate hundreds of accounts belonging to individuals who had chosen to restrict their gambling activity.

Market Impact and Ongoing Scrutiny

The latest enforcement action signals continued pressure on operators to strengthen their monitoring systems and ensure timely responses when players display high-risk behavior. Following the announcement, shares of Unibet’s parent company, FDJ United, traded lower on the Paris exchange, dropping just over 4 percent to €23.44 on Tuesday morning.

With recurring violations cited across multiple investigations, the Ksa has indicated it will maintain intensive oversight of the operator’s practices.