Gibraltar Cautions Unibet Bingo Operator After UK’s £10M Fine

_{Caution for Platinum Gaming Limited. (Image: Platinum Gaming)}

The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner has cautioned Platinum Gaming, the operator of Unibet’s UK bingo site, over due diligence failures, but won’t pursue financial penalties after the UK’s £10 million fine.

Platinum Gaming has received a formal caution from the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, weeks after the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) fined the operator £10 million for severe anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility failings.

The caution, issued 14 November, confirms that Gibraltar will take no further action against the Unibet bingo operator, despite highlighting deficiencies in risk controls and player monitoring that date back to 2023.

Major Failings Flagged in the UK

Platinum Gaming, a subsidiary of Kindred Group, was hit with the UKGC fine in October after investigations revealed multiple failings. These included failure to intervene with high-spending customers and inadequate AML checks.

The UK regulator cited multiple instances, including one where a user lost £2,500 within 16 minutes of registration without being flagged, and another who lost over £16,000 in three months without meaningful operator intervention.

“On balance, the licence holder is considered fit and proper to hold a Gibraltar licence given the documented improvements it has made to its systems, controls and approach to risk over time,” the commission said. 

The Gibraltar regulator noted that there was no evidence of money laundering or criminal spend and said the financial benefit to Platinum from the failings was “very limited.” However, it flagged serious shortcomings in customer due diligence and risk management.

Commissioner Sounds a Warning 

Despite acknowledging the concerns, Gibraltar’s regulator opted against issuing an additional financial penalty. The commission said Platinum’s systems had improved and were now considered “satisfactory,” though it stressed that this status was subject to ongoing third-party review.

The decision was influenced by three key factors:
    •    The failings were historical, traced back to 2023.
    •    The UKGC had already imposed a “significant” £10 million fine.
    •    There was no direct evidence of financial crime or profit-driven breaches in Gibraltar.

“Licence holders that are dual licensed are reminded they are expected to comply with the regime not only in Gibraltar but also of other relevant jurisdictions in which they operate,” the regulator said. “The fact that a formal caution has been issued will be taken into consideration if other matters come to light in the future.” 

Second Strike for Platinum

This is not the first time Platinum has faced regulatory penalties. In March 2023, the operator was fined £2.9 million in the UK for similar breaches. Its sister brand, 32Red, also part of Kindred Group, was fined £4.2 million at the same time for related AML and social responsibility issues.

Increasing Scrutiny on Operators

Kindred Group holds licences in multiple jurisdictions and is under increasing scrutiny as regulators tighten controls on gambling operators. The caution from Gibraltar underscores how international compliance standards are converging, and how operators with multiple licences must maintain consistent risk and player protection practices across borders.

This development is especially relevant for:
    •    Regulators monitoring cross-border consistency.
    •    Industry players concerned about compliance thresholds.
    •    Players looking for assurance that licensed operators are being held accountable.