Kindred Group’s SEK100m player bonuses fine from 2020 cut again to SEK30m on appeal
Initial penalty from the SGA, which was halved in 2021 to SEK50m by Sweden’s Administrative Court, reduced further by the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping
A SEK100m fine handed down to Kindred Group in 2020 has been reduced to SEK30m by the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping, Sweden, in another victory in the long-running case for the operator.
The Stockholm-listed firm was hit with the nine-figure penalty four years ago by the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) over the alleged offering of unauthorised bonuses.
The regulator’s claims against the operator’s shortcomings related to a period between May and June 2019 for its Sweden-facing subsidiary, Spooniker.
At the time, Kindred suggested the regulations related to commercial activities created “unnecessary ambiguity” for operators via vague wording.
Swedish regulations mean that operators are only allowed to offer one-time welcome bonuses, with the regulator claiming Kindred Group had continued to dish out promotions after this point.
The SGA also alleged that the firm’s offers constituted financial incentives, which was a breach of the Swedish Gambling Act that was introduced on 1 January 2019.
At the time, the regulator took issue with Kindred’s ‘Refer a Friend’ campaign as well as ‘high hand happy hours’ poker bonuses and 10 bonus slots spins on Sundays.
Kindred operates Unibet, Bingo.com and a site dedicated to high-rollers, Highrolling Storspelare, in the Swedish market via Spooniker.
In June 2021, the Swedish Administrative Court halved the SEK100m fine to SEK50m, with Kindred Group having changed its internal bonus processes following the initial fine.
Yesterday, 27 May, the operator confirmed the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping had lowered the penalty to SEK30m.
In a statement, Kindred Group said: “Kindred is of the opinion that since the rules were vague, opening for different interpretations, the sanction fee should be reduced in its total.”
Last week, the SGA banned its sixth unlicensed operator in 2024 while the country’s trade body, BOS, hit out at the impending ban on credit card gambling in the market.