Norway’s regulator Lotteritilsynet has said it will fine Kindred NOK1.198m (£103,700/€116,000/$111,700) for every day its Trannel subsidiary operates in the country. The fines will begin October 5.
Kindred has vowed to appeal the fines and stay in Norway while it does so. The regulator previously warned Kindred to leave the Norwegian market, but the operator said it believed it was not breaking any law—so it stayed.
Kindred CEO Henrik Tjärnström September 23 stated, “We will appeal the decision of Lotteritilsynet regarding the issuance of this sanction fee and will continue operating as usual, as long as the legal process is ongoing.” He added, “We want to see how it pans out.”
The company believes it is allowed to operate in Norway under EU law because it holds a license in Malta. Nothing sets Norway apart from other European states, it said.
Tjärnström added, “We dispute the claim that we have operations in Norway.” He added, “We are licensed in Malta and believe that Norwegian customers under current European economic legislation have the right to play on foreign sites if they wish.”
