Norway upholds gambling regulator’s GTFO order to Kindred

Norway’s gambling regulator is claiming victory in its war against online gambling operator Kindred Group’s right to operate in the country.

In April 2019, Norway’s Lotteritilsynet regulatory agency formally ordered Kindred’s Malta-based subsidiary Trannel International Ltd to “stop the illegal offer of money games” from its Unibet, MariaCasino, Storspiller and Bingo.com brands, based on the regulator’s view that Kindred was infringing on state gambling monopoly Norsk Tipping’s turf.

Trannel appealed this order to Norway’s Ministry of Culture and Lottery Committee but on Thursday, the regulator announced that both the Ministry and Committee had rebuffed this appeal and “fully” upheld the regulator’s GTFO order.

Lotteritilsynet senior adviser Trude Felde said the decision was “an important confirmation that we interpret the regulations correctly.” Felde said the regulator would contact Kindred to “ask if they intend to comply with the decision.” (Spoiler alert: they won’t.)