In yet another U-turn, Norway's regulator suspends Kindred penalty

Lotteritilsynet, Norway's gambling authority, will suspend daily fines against Kindred once more, having ruled that the Unibet operator does not target Norway.

The delay is the latest move in a long saga between Kindred and authorities in Norway, particularly Lotteritilsynet.

Lotteritilsynet notified Kindred in September that it will levy a fee of NOK1.198m (£98,902/€113,930/$116,930) for each day the operator did not withdraw from Norway, having earlier warning that sanctions would be imposed if the operator did not depart the market.

The daily fine was supposed to go into force three weeks after Lotteritilsynet agreed to apply it. That judgement was made on September 14th.

However, Lotteritilsynet said in October that the daily fines will be discontinued because the operator would no longer target Norwegian consumers. However, it stated at the time that it took these steps only as a gesture of goodwill and that it was certain that its previous position was still correct.

However, Lotteritilsynet reinstated the fines last month after establishing that Kindred was still targeting Norway.

Norway regulator U-turn

However, the regulator has now modified its mind and will postpone the sanctions once more.

“The Norwegian Gambling Authority has decided to postpone its daily fines on Kindred as it acknowledges that the company has adapted its operations in Norway according to the demands from the NGA,” a Kindred spokesperson said.

The representative went on to say that the Norwegian government had made it plain that Kindred was free to passively accept Norwegian consumers.

“The Norwegian government has however confirmed that it is entirely legal for Norwegian customers to use the company’s services,” they said. “Kindred consistently works to operate its business in a professional manner, and fully according to all applicable laws and regulation.”

By fLEXI tEAM