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French gambling regulator hits Unibet with record fine over self-exclusion breakdown
The French gambling regulator, L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), has issued its largest fine since its establishment in 2020, penalising Kindred Group’s Unibet with a hefty €800,000 fine. This action follows a significant malfunction in Unibet’s self-exclusion system, which persisted for nearly two years, allowing numerous self-excluded players to gamble again.
The issue first arose in March 2021 and was only resolved in December 2022, although a subsequent technical glitch occurred again from late December 2022 to February 2023. The ANJ estimated that around 6,754 players could have accessed their accounts despite being self-excluded, while Unibet claimed the actual number of affected players was significantly lower.
This fine underscores the importance of effective self-exclusion protocols as a vital protective measure in online gambling. Unibet has the option to appeal the decision and must publicise the sanction on its homepage for two weeks.
Key Points
- The ANJ has fined Unibet a record €800,000 due to a malfunction in its self-exclusion system.
- The malfunction persisted from March 2021 until February 2023, affecting thousands of self-excluded users.
- Unibet contended that the number of actually affected players was below the estimated 6,754 by the regulator.
- The ANJ highlighted the inadequacy of Unibet’s corrective actions to promptly resolve the malfunction.
- This incident marks a significant regulatory action in the gambling industry, raising concerns about player protections in online gambling.
Why should I read this?
This article is crucial for stakeholders in the gambling industry as it highlights the regulatory implications of system failures related to player self-exclusion. With growing scrutiny over gambling practices, understanding these developments can inform better compliance and operational strategies in the sector.
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