Norway Threatens Kindred With $42M Fine Over Unlicensed Gambling Operations
Norway’s gambling regulator has threatened Kindred with a massive fine for operating without a licence. The company continues to serve Norwegian customers through platforms like Unibet, despite repeated legal defeats. Meanwhile, Sweden has also cracked down on unlicensed operators, ordering Ease Gaming to exit the market.
The disputes highlight growing tensions between regulators and gambling firms over licensing rules in Scandinavia. Kindred has been in a legal battle with Norway since 2019. Courts have repeatedly ruled that the company operates illegally by offering services through its subsidiary Trannel. Platforms such as Unibet, Mariacasino, Storspiller, and Bingo remain accessible to Norwegian players, despite lacking local licences.
The Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteritilsynet) has now warned Kindred it faces a fine of NOK 437 million (US$42.7 million) if it does not stop serving customers within a year. The regulator claims the company poses a risk to Norwegian society by bypassing licensing requirements. Kindred, however, argues that Norway’s gambling laws are unfair and that it does not need a licence to operate there.
In Sweden, the gaming regulator Spelinspektionen has taken similar action. It ordered Ease Gaming N.V. to leave the country after discovering its unlicensed online casino operations targeted Swedish players. If the company refuses to comply, Spelinspektionen can impose fines or involve police for enforcement.
The situation is further complicated by upcoming changes to Curaçao’s gambling regulations. These reforms could reshape which companies operate there and how they conduct business, potentially affecting firms like Kindred and Ease Gaming. Kindred remains defiant despite Norway’s threats and court rulings. The company insists it has the right to offer services in the country, even as regulators push for stricter enforcement. Sweden’s crackdown on Ease Gaming shows a wider trend of authorities tightening controls on unlicensed gambling operators across Scandinavia. The outcome of these disputes could set a precedent for how gambling firms operate in regulated markets moving forward.
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