Unibet Operator Optdeck Receives Two Warnings from Dutch Gambling Regulator
The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued two official warnings to Optdeck, the operator of the Unibet brand in the Netherlands, for breaching local gambling regulations. The violations involved the misuse of a branded team vehicle and the temporary activation of a prohibited autoplay feature.
Branded Team Bus Breaches Ad Ban
The first warning centers on a branded vehicle linked to Unibet’s sponsorship of the Tietema Rockets cycling team. Under current Dutch rules, untargeted gambling advertising — including branding in public spaces — has been banned since mid-2023.
According to the KSA, the Unibet-branded team bus was used for purposes beyond its intended scope, which contravened the sponsorship agreement and national advertising laws. The regulator stated that the cycling team “has been asked to stop using the bus immediately, and the bus and team vehicles will be provided with modified stickers without the Unibet logo.”
Further emphasizing accountability, the KSA reminded operators that “it is always the provider’s responsibility to guarantee that sponsorship agreements comply with the laws and regulations.” As of 1 July 2025, the branded bus will be permanently removed from use, aligning with the upcoming nationwide ban on all sports sponsorship by gambling operators.
Optdeck responded by noting the complexity of managing various sponsorships and claimed they were unaware the vehicle was being used outside of its intended role.
Prohibited Autoplay Function Triggers Second Warning
The second violation involved Unibet’s BonusBuy feature, which included an autoplay function — a mechanism that is illegal under Dutch gambling laws when aimed at local players.
The function allowed users to continue playing automatically after purchasing bonuses, a setup that contravenes consumer protection standards. Optdeck stated that a third-party provider had mistakenly activated the feature shortly after launch. It remained live for just two hours before being disabled.
The company reimbursed all affected players and said steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Despite the prompt response, the KSA underlined that it is keeping a close watch: “Because both violations were stopped immediately as soon as they were noticed, the KSA will leave it at a warning for now,” but added that repeated mistakes could result in more severe consequences.
Regulatory Pressure Mounts in the Netherlands
The warnings come at a time when Dutch regulators are ramping up enforcement efforts. Since July 2023, the Netherlands has prohibited all untargeted gambling advertisements on television, radio, print, and public spaces. Only narrowly targeted ads — subject to strict conditions — remain permitted.
In tandem, the KSA has introduced mandatory affordability checks and deposit limits to curb excessive gambling. These measures appear to be effective: the percentage of players losing over €1,000 per month has fallen from 4% to around 1.2%.