The Amsterdam District Court has dismissed a case brought against Unibet, part of the Kindred Group, over alleged mishandling of players’ personal data.
The case was filed by Gokverliesterug, an organization that pursues claims against unlicensed online gambling operators on behalf of affected players.
Gokverliesterug argued that several players were denied access to their personal data after making requests to Unibet. The players had reportedly used various Unibet platforms targeting Dutch users between 2010 and 2024. Notably, the Netherlands only legalized online gambling on 1 October 2021. Although Unibet operated in the market prior to that, it has since obtained a Dutch licence.
The issue arose when players asked Unibet to disclose what personal information had been collected during their gaming activity. While Unibet did provide two players with summaries of their transaction and gaming histories in late 2023 and early 2024, no further data was shared afterward. The operator either requested resubmission of the data request or claimed it required additional time to process it. Unibet also questioned its legal obligation to comply, referring to Maltese legislation, as Kindred is registered in Malta (and now part of FDJ United).
Gokverliesterug sued Unibet, demanding full disclosure of the players’ data along with monetary compensation and legal costs. However, the court sided with Unibet. It pointed out that under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), organizations can only represent individuals if they are not-for-profit and genuinely focused on protecting data rights.
Unibet argued that Gokverliesterug did not meet the criteria under Article 79(2) of the GDPR. The company highlighted that the organization collects 36% of any recovered funds from gambling operators, suggesting a profit-driven motive. On this basis, Unibet claimed Gokverliesterug was not a qualified not-for-profit body.
Although Gokverliesterug denied having a commercial intent—claiming external litigation funding justified the commission—it failed to provide sufficient documentation proving its non-profit status or its exact role in the case. The court therefore deemed the organization’s claim inadmissible and ordered it to pay €2,553 in legal fees and court costs to Kindred and its partner Risepoint.
