Operating company Kindred Group will remain in Norway, despite being offered the opportunity to exit the country.
Instead it will take the daily fine imposed by the regulator Lottstift for remaining. The Swedish company’s CEO, Henrik Tjärnström, said that Kindred will instead remain and appeal the fine and the "cease and desist" order.
Kindred works in Norway through subsidiary Trannel International, managing the Unibet, MariaCasino, Storspiller and Bingo.com brands. The Lottstrift had ordered them to be closed down.
Lottstift, the Norwegian Lottery Authority, had declared that Kindred’s operations in Norway were illegal and Trannel would face daily fines of €120,000 for continuing.
Lottstrift said that Trannel had not been granted permission to operate in Norway, but Tjärnström said that he planned to elevate the appeal to higher courts where he was confident that his arguments would prevail.
He maintains that Norwegians should be free to choose to use foreign gambling services such as Kindred’s, via Trannel. Both companies are registered in Malta.
