Unibet ‘acknowledges bonus issues’ shortly after market re-entry

Unibet has encountered operational issues in the Netherlands, just one month after securing re-entry to the country’s online betting market. 

Bettors holding accounts with the Kindred Group sportsbook brand have apparently been experiencing ‘problems’ with bonuses provided by the operator. 

Issuing an update, the Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), stated that it has been in contact with Unibet after receiving reports about the issues from players.

“The KSA has been in contact with Unibet about the reports,” the authority detailed. “The company acknowledges the issues and has stated that it is working to resolve them. For more information about handling, please refer to the help centre on unibet.nl.”

It has not been confirmed what exactly the problems players are experiencing with bonuses are, but under the licensing conditions of the KOA Act – which regulated the Dutch online market last October – there are some terms for the offerings. 

The rules state that bonuses cannot be modified to incentivize customers to play more on a particular betting market or game, or be used as a tool for customer re-engagement.

There are also rules set out concerning bonuses and marketing – the KOA Act outlines that all marketing initiatives include detailed terms and conditions on any bonuses offered.

In the nine months since October’s online launch, the KSA has maintained a strict stance against firms operating in violation of the KOA Act’s marketing, advertising and bonus conditions. 

In May, over 50 affiliate marketers were warned about advertising requirements, with the authority reiterating the terms outlined above – affiliates were reminded that bonus promotions should be informative only and not encourage customers to play or deposit funds with any particular operator. 

For Unibet, the firm’s bonus issues come shortly after gaining re-entry to the Dutch market. The brand had initially had to close its operations in the country after the KOA Act first came into effect and re-apply for a new licence, along with other international gaming groups such as Entain.

Confirming licence approval from the KOA on 8 June, Kindred described the Netherlands betting space as playing ‘an important part’ of its international strategy of doing business in locally licenced markets.