The Dutch gambling regulatory body, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has imposed a €400,000 penalty on Optdeck Service Ltd, commonly recognized as Unibet.
The infraction stemmed from the brand’s failure to prevent individuals, registered on the Netherlands’ national self-exclusion database, CRUKS, from signing up. This database functions similarly to others in Europe, mandating that licensed gambling operators must deny service to registered individuals, whether for physical or online gambling.
The KSA was alerted mid-2023 of Unibet’s oversight in performing the required checks during the 2022 World Cup events. Following an investigation by the regulator, the non-compliance was confirmed, and Optdeck chose not to contest the imposed fine.
CRUKS plays a crucial role in the Dutch gambling landscape, and the KSA has been proactive in ensuring its significance is recognized through various public awareness campaigns.
The latest campaign, launched this month, sought to boost awareness by employing a variety of marketing strategies on social media platforms that are particularly popular with younger demographics. The details of this initiative are accessible in a recent report [here](https://sbcnews.co.uk/marketing/2024/12/16/ksa-launches-second-stage-of-cruks-awareness-campaign/).