Danish regulator warns Unibet over AML breach

The case related to the activity of a Unibet customer who was allowed to deposit DKK1.4m (£160,658/€188,262/$212,527) into his account between December 2016 and December 2018, without Unibet first confirming that these funds did not originate from criminal activity.

This, the regulator said, happened despite Unibet in March 2015 noting that the player, who was inactive at the time, would need to be monitored if he started depositing and playing again.

Unibet in December 2018 eventually requested the player to provide proof of the origin of the funds. This documentation proved the player was gambling more than he could finance through his income.

However, Spillemyndigheden said Unibet then allowed the player to continue to deposit a further DKK1.8m throughout 2019 until April 2020 when his account was shut down.

Spillemyndigheden ruled that this was in breach sections 10, 11 and 25 of the Danish Money Laundering Act and ordered Kindred and Unibet to notify the country’s Money Laundering Secretariat, a unit within the State Prosecutor for Serious Economic Crime, of the player’s activities.

Unibet was given a two-week deadline to notify the Secretariat, with this due by 23 December. Kindred told iGB that it would “absolutely” meet this deadline.

“Kindred Group, specifically Unibet ’Denmark’ Limited, which operates Kindred’s Danish business, has been reprimanded by the Danish Gambling Authority, DGA, regarding a past failing related to AML,” Kindred told iGB.

“Over the last year we have updated our policy and procedures to ensure further improvements to our AML framework. We are taking necessary precautions to ensure we remain compliant with AML regulations and maintain our high standards on consumer protection. Kindred will continue to collaborate fully with the DGA.”