Kindred loses appeal, must exit Norway

[The Buzz]

Kindred-owned Trannel, which operates websites including Unibet, must leave Norway after losing an appeal, the country’s regulator has warned.

You may remember that last month, Kindred announced it was speeding up its plan for a sale, following the departures of senior managers in recent weeks.

From Vixio:

Judges on the Borgarting Court of Appeal ruled that the Norwegian gambling regulator was correct to order Kindred, which runs Trannel as a subsidiary, to cease running unlicensed gambling services. The decision marks the latest twist in Kindred’s years-long dispute with Norway’s authorities concerning the status of its grey market operations.

Alte Hamar, director of the Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority, said the organisation was “very satisfied” with the judgment from the court of appeal. Hamar said that it showed that large international gaming businesses must adhere to Norwegian law and stop offering unlicensed gambling services to consumers.

“The fact that Trannel is not supported on a single point shows that the work we do to get illegal companies out of the Norwegian market is solid and well-established,” said Hamar.

“The verdict confirms that the Lotteries and Foundations Authority’s decision to stop the illegal gambling offer was correct. Now we expect the company to withdraw completely from the Norwegian market.”

The court supported the state on all points and rejected Kindred’s appeal. The business must also pay the Ministry of Culture and Equality’s legal costs for the case.

Read more here: https://vixio.com/blog/kindred-must-...-court-ruling/