KSA Strikes Unibet with Weekly Fines Due to Repeated Offences

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued a penalty order against Unibet operator Optdeck, citing a “real risk of recurrence” in relation to prohibited sports betting activities.

KSA Penalizes Unibet

Under the order, Unibet will be fined €75,000 (approximately $81,000) per week for any future violations, with a maximum total penalty of €450,000 (approximately $486,000). The fine will only take effect if Unibet resumes offering unauthorized bets.

The KSA’s investigation uncovered repeated violations between October 2022 and May 2025. These breaches included offering bets on 214 matches involving players under the age of 21 during the 2023/2024 season, which led to more than 125,000 bets being placed.

Unibet also permitted betting on specific match events such as corner kicks and yellow cards, most notably during the Chelsea vs. Manchester United match on 15 May. Although these wagers were later canceled after the violations were identified by the operator, they still constituted regulatory breaches.

According to the KSA, betting on youth matches and easily influenced events, such as corner kicks and yellow or red cards, poses an elevated risk of match-fixing. These types of wagers are explicitly banned under Dutch gambling laws and regulations. The authority further noted that Unibet had been previously warned on multiple occasions regarding these prohibited betting practices.

KSA and Unibet Have Come to Blows Before

KSA’s warnings towards Unibet aren’t a new thing. Its investigations revealed repeated breaches between October 2022 and May 2025, with the regulator issuing warnings to the company. This includes instances when the KSA sent formal notices ahead of the FIFA World Cup, explicitly stating that bets on yellow cards were not allowed.

The KSA has also warned Unibet for breaching strict advertising laws earlier this summer. This included improper sponsorship use and banned autoplay features.

Unfortunately for Unibet, the latest fines aren’t the first ones that the company has had to endure this year, nor is the KSA the only national regulator to go after the betting provider. A couple of months ago, for example, Unibet had failed to shut down the accounts of almost 1,000 customers who had chosen to self-exclude from gambling. As a result, Unibet’s parent company, Betchoice Corporation, was hit with a $1 million fine from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).