Dutch Regulator Mandates Unibet To Fix AML Failures

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has ordered Optdeck Service Limited, operating as Unibet, to strengthen its anti-money laundering frameworks. This followed a ruling that found the company in breach of national laws. 

The regulator concluded that Unibet’s current setup falls short under its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act. It also identified weaknesses in customer due diligence. 

According to the KSA, Unibet’s transaction monitoring systems “did not align well” with its internal policies. Concerns were also raised about financial thresholds and when to flag a customer as a high AML risk or investigate the source of funds. 

Operator responds with policy changes during investigation

Following its findings, the KSA engaged directly with Unibet to address the issues. It stated that the company was cooperative and introduced various changes before the review ended.

Furthermore, the KSA will carry out follow-up checks to monitor Unibet’s progress with the remediation plan and required amendments.

KSA signals wider enforcement across Dutch market

This case forms part of a larger enforcement effort targeting AML compliance in the Dutch gambling sector. The KSA stated that it is reviewing other operators for similar shortcomings.

Previous action has already been taken against TOTO Online for Wwft violations last year.

“Gambling providers must monitor the behaviour of their players and take action if there is unusual behaviour,” the regulator said. “Examples of this include when a player suddenly deposits large amounts or if there is a suspicion of match-fixing.

“In its Wwft guidelines, KSA previously pointed out the risk of large deposits, even when these originate from the player’s bank account.”

You can read more about regulation in the Regulation Section.