Unibet Ordered by Dutch Authorities to Correct Anti-Money-Laundering Deficiencies
The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), has taken action against Optdeck Service Limited, the company behind Unibet, citing violations of the country’s anti-money laundering regulations. The regulator identified shortcomings in customer due diligence and found discrepancies between Unibet’s transaction monitoring practices and its internal policies. As a result, Ksa has issued an instruction for corrective measures and scheduled a follow-up review to assess progress.
At the heart of the issue lies the Dutch Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act (Wwft), which aims to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Under this law, gambling operators are required to thoroughly vet their customers, keep a close eye on transactions, and act when suspicious patterns emerge. The Ksa emphasized that Unibet needs to update its policies regarding financial threshold values. These thresholds are crucial because they determine when a player is assigned a high anti-money laundering risk rating and when the operator must initiate a source-of-funds review, an investigation into where a player’s money originates.
The regulator’s ongoing supervision of Wwft compliance reflects its broader mission to prevent illicit financial activities and safeguard the integrity of the financial system. The Ksa highlighted that it routinely examines how gambling operators monitor their customers. Operators are expected to observe player behavior carefully and take action if anything unusual is detected. Examples include sudden large deposits or signs of match-fixing.
Read also: BetConstruct AI Elevates Betshop Gaming with New Retail Jackpot Engine for Sportsbooks
The Ksa also reminded operators of previous guidance warning about the dangers associated with sizable deposits, even if the funds are from a player’s own bank account. As part of the directive, Unibet has been instructed to cease the identified violations. The regulator noted that the company cooperated throughout the investigation and took proactive steps to develop a remediation plan. Some of the issues had already been addressed during the investigation. Once the set deadline for compliance passes, Ksa will conduct a follow-up review to ensure all measures have been implemented effectively. Unibet Anti-Money-Laundering
