Player protection: Unibet fined by the ANJ

In total, these malfunctions lasted almost 22 months, seriously compromising player protection. The ANJ’s sanctions committee, however, confirmed the violations and imposed multiple penalties, citing the severity and duration of the breaches — particularly given their impact on problem gambling prevention. The Unibet glitch, however, meant that from 2 March 2021 to 11 December 2022, self-excluded players could regain access within days.

• In total, these malfunctions lasted almost 22 months, seriously compromising player protection.
• ACMA member and gambling lead Carolyn Lidgerwood described the incident as a significant failure in Unibet’s compliance with the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER) requirements.
• The regulator estimated that about 220 illicit operators have withdrawn from the market.
• If you have gone through the alternatives to deleting your account and still feel it is the only way out, follow the steps below to delete your Unibet account.
• The company also operated in other restricted markets, often paying minor fines while continuing business as usual.

The flaw was reported in July 2023 by a player who was able to bypass the self-exclusion. Even when you are happy staking at Unibet, a time may come and have a reason to delete your account. To simplify the process, we have a step by step guide for you, and alternatives to doing so. Between that update and the latest April one, ACMA suggested it had blocked just under 100 additional websites.

The regulator estimated that about 220 illicit operators have withdrawn from the market. Regulators state that once an individual registers with the NSER, the operator must close that account. ACMA’s investigation into Unibet discovered that the failure to close the affected accounts has resulted in 100,000 breaches of Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. In addition to the financial penalty, Unibet has agreed to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking. Just a couple of months ago, France’s gambling regulator, ANJ, issued a record-breaking $843,000 fine to SPS Betting, which operates Unibet in the country. As long as fines stay small relative to revenue, operators will likely see them as minor inconveniences rather than serious deterrents.

This fragmentation allows operators to establish platforms that do not participate in self-exclusion schemes mandated by certain countries. Gamban technology can be downloaded across multiple devices to block access to over 30,000 online gambling websites. During the Football World Cup, a significant increase in traffic led to errors in the verification of Cruks at Unibet. To address these issues, the operator allowed players encountering registration errors to manually enter their Citizen Service Number (BSN).

Market research shows a slow but steady increase in the number of players migrating to non-CRUKS casinos since 2023. In 2021, following reports, the ANJ services discovered a computer malfunction on the ‘Unibet.fr’ application and website for devices using the iOS operating system. In fact, players self-exclusion requests made in months were automatically converted to days. Therefore, a player who requested a twelve-month self-exclusion was only self-excluded for twelve days. Effective July 1, 2025, the territory government will double its annual wagering tax cap for licensed sports betting platforms from one to two million revenue units.

Despite regulatory efforts, these tactics show that penalties and restrictions have little effect, as operators and their partners continue to find ways to work around them. Some clubs even altered gambling company names on jerseys to appear unrelated while still linking to betting platforms. France imposed a€800,000 penalty, while Australia’s fine was only AU$60,000 (~€38,000). The company also operated in other restricted markets, often paying minor fines while continuing business as usual. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Unibet allowed 15 self-excluded players to register and gamble between November 22, 2022, and January 30, 2023.

Are there any alternative ways of deleting my account?

Beyond the UK, other jurisdictions have introduced similar centralized or multi-operator self-exclusion registers, reflecting a growing recognition of their potential to reduce gambling harm. The effectiveness of CRUKS relies unibetofficial.com heavily on compliance by gambling operators and awareness among players. “We are strong advocates for education around responsible gambling and ensuring all of our customers are able to make an informed choice.

This has created demand for online casinos and sportsbooks that operate without linking to centralized self-exclusion registers. Such platforms often operate under different regulatory regimes or in jurisdictions that do not mandate participation in systems like CRUKS. The Committee confirmed the breaches and imposed a public penalty of €800,000, justified by the large number of players who were unable to benefit from this protection system. This decision, which is unprecedented in its scope, is a reminder of the Committee’s commitment to penalising operators who fail to meet their obligations to prevent excessive gambling. It should be noted that after the imposition of the fine, Unibet has voluntarily committed to issuing refunds to affected customers who were able to access accounts that should have been closed. According to ACMA, these actions are a significant step by the company toward ensuring future compliance with regulatory requirements.

In addition to the above, you can set a loss limit, deposit limits, or take a time out. With this, you will manage how much you gamble and protect yourself from chasing losses. For example, you can deactivate the sports section or even casino games on the Unibet website for a period.

Before leaving Poland in 2024, it served Polish players without a local license, violating gambling laws. Unibet presents itself as a reputable global brand but has repeatedly operated in unregulated or illegal markets. NSW law forbids operators from enticing people to bet, yet Unibet had already faced a AU$48,000 fine in 2021 for similar violations. The violation occurred when Unibet, facing increased traffic, modified its standard registration process, enabling sign-ups without verifying the Dutch citizen service number (BSN). Unibet has strengthened its self-exclusion processes after becoming the first UK operator to integrate blocking software courtesy of Gamban.

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However SPS Betting, the company that operates Unibet’s French site, disputed the ANJ’s estimate and argued that the number of accounts potentially affected should be reduced to between 4,035 and a maximum of 4,888. There are unofficial user reports that Unibet limits the activity of users who win on a consistent basis. The process for restoring a suspended Unibet account can vary depending on the reason for suspension and the policies in place.

Each day the account remains open constitutes a separate breach, hence why Unibet accumulated well over 100,000 separate breaches in the 954 accounts. If a customer’s self-exclusion period concludes and they choose to resume gambling, they must create a new account; access to previously closed accounts is not permitted. Self-exclusion has a clear and measurable effect on betting behavior among users who register. Online gambling operators are required to offer players a self-exclusion mechanism enabling them to exclude themselves from gambling for a set period of time, ranging from 24 hours to 12 months. This mechanism is designed to offer a break to players who feel vulnerable to gambling or who want to take a step back.

Despite repeated offenses, these fines remain insignificant compared to Unibet’s Australian revenues. The company promoted price push offers—enhanced odds classified as illegal gambling inducements. CRUKS (Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen) is acornerstone of the Netherlands’ gambling framework, providing players with a way to self-exclude from gambling activities. With years of experience in the gambling industry, ranging from local news reporting to international investigations, Maxime brings a deep understanding of the complexities of today’s news landscape. In addition to the fine, SPS Betting must publish the decision in the Official Journal of the French Republic and post a notice on Unibet.fr and its applications from 17 to 31 March 2025, informing users of the penalty.

€800,000 Fine for Self-Exclusion Failures

The undertaking requires an independent audit of the operator’s compliance systems and implementation of recommended improvements. If regulators want to enforce real consequences, they must impose fines proportional to revenue and consider stricter measures like license revocations. FDJ’s acquisition of Unibet and its exit from Poland suggest that strategic business decisions, not fines, drive compliance. Regulators use them to send a message, but major operators continue questionable practices because the financial consequences remain minimal. For a brand of this size, deliberately operating illegally while treating fines as minor expenses raises ethical concerns. In the Netherlands, former players are suing Unibet for losses before online betting became legal in 2021.