{{Short description|Online gambling company}} {{COI|date=December 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Kindred Group Plc | logo = Kindredgroup logo.jpg | logo_size = 250px | type = Public | traded_as = | founder = Anders Ström | key_people = Nils Anden (CEO) | industry = Online gambling | successor = FDJ United | revenue = £751.4 million (2017)<ref name=annualreport>{{cite web|url=http://www.kindredgroup.com/globalassets/documents/investor-relations-related-documents/financial-reports/kindred-2017-annual-report-eng.pdf|title=Kindred 2017 annual report Eng}}</ref> | num_employees = 2348 | foundation = {{Start date and age|1997}} | location = Malta | locations = Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Italy, Malta, Sweden, UK, Romania | homepage = {{URL|http://www.kindredgroup.com}} }} '''Kindred Group''' (formerly '''Unibet Group Plc''') is an online gambling operator which consists of nine brands, among them Unibet, Maria Casino, Vlad Cazino and 32Red. The Group offer products such as online casino, online poker, online bingo, and sports betting. The company is registered in Malta, but also has major hub offices in Gibraltar, London, Stockholm and the US in addition to smaller satellite offices across Europe and Australia. Kindred Group was a publicly listed company on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (Nasdaq) until a cash buyout by La francaise des Jeux (FDJ) in October 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maltaceos.mt/kindred-group-announces-changes-to-board-of-directors-following-la-francaise-des-jeux-buyout/ |website=maltaceos.mt |access-date=4 January 2025 |title=Kindred Group announces changes to Board of Directors following la Française des Jeux buyout |date=15 October 2024 }}</ref>
== History == In 2011 Unibet was awarded one of 48 licenses for the newly re-regulated Danish market.<ref>{{cite web|title=Danish Gambling Authority hands out first licences|date=15 December 2011 |url=http://calvinayre.com/2011/12/15/business/danish-gambling-authority-hands-out-first-licences/|publisher=Calvin Ayre Foundation.|accessdate=19 April 2014}}</ref>
In 2012 Unibet acquired Bet24, a Danish online bookmaker.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stagno-Navarra|first=Karl|title=Unibet acquires Bet24 and transfers employees to Malta|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/business/business_news/17379/unibet-acquires-bet24-and-transfers-employees-to-malta-20120411|publisher=MediaToday|accessdate=19 April 2014}}</ref>
On 3 December 2013 Unibet announced that it was moving its poker operation away from the MPN network to offer a standalone poker site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unibet Departing MPN to Offer Standalone Poker Site|url=http://www.pokerupdate.com/news/networks-and-rooms/unibet-departing-mpn-to-offer-standalone-poker-site/|publisher=Vita Ltd|accessdate=19 April 2014|date=3 December 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225916/http://www.pokerupdate.com/news/networks-and-rooms/unibet-departing-mpn-to-offer-standalone-poker-site/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2014 Unibet signed a deal with Thunderkick,<ref>{{cite web|title=Thunderkick Signs Deal With Unibet|url=http://www.casino-reviewer.co.uk/online-casino-news/566/view_details/Thunderkick-Signs-Deal-With-Unibet|publisher=Casino Reviewer|accessdate=2 July 2014|date=7 April 2014}}</ref> making them one of the first brands to support Thunderkick games.
On 19 May 2014, shareholders of Unibet approved the proposed spin-off of its B2B subsidiary Kambi Group Plc.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Unibet shareholders approve Kambi spin-off at AGM - Gaming Intelligence|url = http://www.gamingintelligence.com/business/25989-unibet-shareholders-approve-kambi-spin-off-at-agm|website = www.gamingintelligence.com| date=13 August 2015 |accessdate = 3 December 2015}}</ref> The company's 95 per cent stake in the business was subsequently distributed to Unibet shareholders. The Kambi Group Plc share started trading on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm First North on 2 June 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kambi - NASDAQ OMX NORDIC|url = http://www.nasdaqomxnordic.com/news/listings/firstnorth/2014/kambi|website = www.nasdaqomxnordic.com|accessdate = 3 December 2015}}</ref> The share closed at SEK 34 on the first day of trading, giving the company a market valuation of SEK 1,011,200,700.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Press release : Kambi Group plc |url=http://kambigroupplc.com/press-release/?releaseIdentifier=7960A2735F059F55 |website=kambigroupplc.com |accessdate=3 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208094219/http://kambigroupplc.com/press-release/?releaseIdentifier=7960A2735F059F55 |archivedate=8 December 2015 }}</ref>
Unibet purchased Bingo.com Ltd.’s www.bingo.com domain and its real money online gambling business for a total of $8 million effective 31 December 2014. Unibet paid $2 million in cash and the remaining balance was paid with the redemption of its 15,000,000 in common shares in Bingo.com at $0.40 per share.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.intergameonline.com/i-gaming/news/12825/unibet-buys-bingo.com|title=Unibet buys Bingo.com|publisher=intergameonline.com/|date=23 June 2015}}</ref>
On 14 November 2016, Unibet announced a partnership with Swedish electronic identification service, BankID, as the first gambling operator to utilise the bank developed solution at its Unibet and Maria Casino brands.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.cision.com/unibet-group-plc/r/unibet-group-first-gambling-operator-to-integrate-bankid-in-sweden,c2121373|title=Unibet Group first gambling operator to integrate BankID in Sweden|website=news.cision.com|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref>
Unibet continued on their acquisition trail in July 2015 with the purchase of StanJames.com (online business).<ref>{{cite web|title=Unibet Group plc: Unibet Acquires Stan James Online|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150709006364/en/Unibet-Group-plc-Unibet-Acquires-Stan-James|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=23 February 2017|date=10 July 2015}}</ref> The price paid was believed to be £19 million in cash, adjusted for any customer liabilities. The deal did not include any of the Stan James high street retail shops, which have been rebranded as Megabet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.megabet.co.uk/p/about-us/|title=MEGABET - Place your bets|website=www.megabet.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2017}}</ref>
In December 2016, shareholders at Unibet agreed to change the name of the business to Kindred Group Plc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unibet Group plc: Unibet officially renamed Kindred Group Plc|url=https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/2734/unibet-officially-renamed-kindred-group-plc|publisher=Gambling Insider|accessdate=23 February 2017|date=6 December 2016}}</ref> The change was supposedly "due to the company's focus on developing a multi-brand strategy moving forward".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1C5097|title=BRIEF-Unibet Group says to change name to Kindred Group|date=29 September 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=17 June 2017}}</ref>
The newly named Kindred Group Plc continued their acquisition strategy in February 2017, snapping up the Gibraltar-based online gaming business 32Red Plc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kindred to Buy 32Red for $219 Million in Latest Gaming Deal|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-23/kindred-to-buy-32red-for-219-million-in-latest-gambling-deal|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=23 February 2017|date=23 February 2017}}</ref>
In April 2018, Kindred Group launched an online gambling ad blocker tool so customers who choose to exclude themselves will be safe from gambling advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kindred Launches Anti-Gambling Blocker Tool with Betfilter|url=http://www.casinoreviews.co.uk/news/society/kindred-launches-anti-gambling-blocker-tool-betfilter.html |date=9 April 2018 |accessdate=9 April 2018}}</ref>
In August 2018, Kindred Group announced a partnership with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, marking the company's first entrance to the United States sports betting market by entering the New Jersey sports betting market.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.playnj.com/news/kindred-group-hard-rock-sports-betting-nj/23373/|title=Kindred Group Connects With Hard Rock Atlantic City For NJ Sports Betting|date=2018-08-17|work=Play NJ|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829035022/https://www.playnj.com/news/kindred-group-hard-rock-sports-betting-nj/23373/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 28 January 2019 Kindred Group formed a partnership with the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to enter the Pennsylvania sports betting market.<ref name=cv>{{cite news|last=Allabaugh|first=Denise|title=Mohegan Sun Pocono to offer sports betting, online gaming|work=The Citizens' Voice|location=Wilkes-Barre, PA|date=January 29, 2019|url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/mohegan-sun-pocono-to-offer-sports-betting-online-gaming-1.2438687|accessdate=January 29, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2024, Kindred Group was purchased by La Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) per reference above.
== Controversies and regulatory actions ==
=== United Kingdom === In March 2023, the UK Gambling Commission fined Kindred subsidiaries 32Red Limited and Platinum Gaming Limited a combined £7.1 million for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failings, and issued both with official warnings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Gambling Commission fines 32Red and Platinum Gaming £7.1m |url=https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/gambling-commission-fines-32red-and-platinum-gaming-gbp7-1m |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Gambling Commission |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-23 |title=UK's gambling regulator fines 32Red, Platinum Gaming $8.8 mln |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-gambling-regulator-fines-32-red-platinum-gaming-88-mln-2023-03-23/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>
=== Norway === Norway’s gambling authority Lotteritilsynet imposed a coercive fine of NOK 1.198 million per day in September 2022 against Kindred’s Malta-licensed subsidiary Trannel International unless it ceased offering online gambling to Norwegian residents; the fine was to continue until Trannel’s estimated annual gross profit in Norway was reached or the company withdrew.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leirdal |first=Bjørn |date=2022-09-15 |title=The Norwegian Gambling Authority gives Unibet owners a fine of NOK 1.2 million per day |url=https://lottstift.no/en/news/the-norwegian-gambling-authority-gives-unibet-owners-a-fine-of-nok-1-2-million-per-day/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=lottstift EN |language=en-US}}</ref> Following a protracted legal and regulatory dispute, Lotteritilsynet stated in September 2023 that “the company behind Unibet” would withdraw from the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Hagan |first=Marese |date=2023-09-14 |title=Kindred to withdraw from Norway |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/regulation/kindred-withdraw-from-norway/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=iGB |language=en-GB}}</ref> The regulator had earlier paused and restarted the daily fines over 2022-2023 as Trannel adjusted its posture pending appeals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Robert |date=2022-10-07 |title=Lotteritilsynet halts daily fines as Kindred stops targeting Norway |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/lotteritilsynet-halts-daily-fines-against-kindred/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=iGB |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Sweden === Kindred’s Swedish subsidiary Spooniker Ltd received a SEK 100 million sanction fee in 2020 for violations of Sweden’s bonus rules; the amount was reduced on appeal - first to SEK 50 million and later to SEK 30 million by the Administrative Court of Appeal in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Administrative Court of Appeal reduces Kindred's sanction fee from 2020 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-administrative-court-of-appeal-reduces-kindreds-sanction-fee-from-2020-302156109.html |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Swedish Court Reduces Kindred’s Bonus Rule Penalty |url=https://ggbnews.com/article/swedish-court-reduces-kindreds-bonus-rule-penalty/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=GGB News |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2025, the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) issued Spooniker a further warning and a SEK 10 million penalty for deficiencies in customer due diligence and anti-money-laundering controls identified in a follow-up review.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Spooniker Ltd får varning och sanktionsavgift för brister i arbetet mot penningtvätt och finansiering av terrorism |url=https://www.spelinspektionen.se/nyhetsarkiv/spooniker-ltd-far-varning-och-sanktionsavgift-for-brister-i-arbetet-mot-penningtvatt-och-finansiering-av-terrorism/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=www.spelinspektionen.se |language=sv}}</ref>
=== Netherlands === On 18 December 2024, the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit fined Optdeck Service Limited, operator of Kindred’s Unibet in the Netherlands, €400,000 for allowing players listed in the national self-exclusion register Cruks to register and gamble during late 2022 and early 2023. KSA also published the underlying sanction decision.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Boete van €400.000 voor Unibet voor toelaten spelers die in Cruks staan |url=https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/nieuws/2024/december-0/boete-e400-000-unibet-toelaten-spelers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417190707/https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/nieuws/2024/december-0/boete-e400-000-unibet-toelaten-spelers/ |archive-date=17 April 2025 |access-date=2025-08-28 |work=Kansspelautoriteit |language=nl-NL |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=3 December 2024 |title=Sanctiebesluit Optdeck Service Limited (Unibet) |url=https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/publish/library/32/18052_01-330-227_sanctiebesluit_optdeck-ov.pdf |access-date=28 August 2025 |website=Kansspelautoriteit |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Robert |date=2024-12-20 |title=Dutch regulator fines Unibet €400,000 for self-exclusion breach |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/dutch-fine-unibet-self-exclusion-kindred/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=iGB |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Denmark === In December 2021 and February 2022, Denmark’s gambling authority Spillemyndigheden issued orders and warnings to Unibet (Denmark) Limited for breaches of customer due diligence and anti-money-laundering requirements, citing failures to obtain sufficient source-of-funds information and to investigate high-risk activity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order and action brought against Unibet (Denmark) Limited for breach of the Anti-Money Laundering Act {{!}} Spillemyndigheden |url=https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/en/afgoerelse/order-and-action-brought-against-unibet-denmark-limited-breach-anti-money-laundering-act |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=www.spillemyndigheden.dk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Robert |date=2022-02-18 |title=Danish regulator issues further warning to Unibet over AML breaches |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/danish-regulator-issues-further-warning-to-unibet-over-aml-breaches/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=iGB |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.kindredgroup.com Kindred Group website]
Category:Online gambling companies of Sweden Category:Gambling companies established in 1997 Category:Online poker companies Category:Online gambling companies of Malta Category:Companies formerly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm