SEK 10 million Claim directed against related subsidiaries in Sweden
Swedish entrepreneur and Odd Molly founder Per Holknekt has submitted a large lawsuit to the Stockholm district court against Unibet’s parent company, Kindred Group, along with a claim for over 10 million kroner ($986,263).
Holknekt speaks openly about his gambling addiction
62-year-old Per Holknekt has struggled with gambling addiction for a long time. According to his own reports, he has bet 55.5 million SEK (5.5 million USD) only on Unibet, Kindred Group’s subsidiary in Sweden, during the period from 2005 to 2019 and has lost 26 million SEK (2.5 million USD) of that amount . Holknekt is suing Kindred Group because he says the company fed into his gambling problem and enticed him to gamble more and more even though he clearly saw he was losing millions. Holknekt has said
Each bet was my own decision, but as a serious gambling addict, they knew in a cunning way, like a crack dealer, exactly how to play me to generate the highest possible profit, for the owners, prepared to sacrifice a human being.
Swedish entrepreneur and Odd Molly founder Per Holknekt
With this lawsuit, Holknekt tries to draw attention to the serious issue of gambling addiction and point the finger at the big banks that continue to invest in gambling companies, which every year end up at the bottom of the list of sustainable companies.
Holknekt’s battle with gambling addiction continued for 15 years but he has managed to recover and has blocked himself from all forms of gambling for the past three years. Holknekt says he knows many other people who are struggling and who are led on by the gambling companies. He has highlighted that some people even kill themselves. Holknekt has decided to take up a fight against one of the biggest players in the gambling sector to protect those who are harmed by gambling companies’ abuses, shortcomings, violations of rules and exploitation of gambling addicts.
The trial in detail
On July 25, Holknekt filed a 25-page lawsuit demanding compensation from Unibet’s two parent companies, Kindred Group and Spooniker, amounting to SEK 10,252,409 (USD 1,011,471). The main reason is that Holknekt’s gambling addiction is said to have been fueled by the gambling company, which, according to the lawsuit, should have been very aware of Holknekt’s losing streak but did nothing to protect him from harm. In the document sent to the Stockholm District Court it is stated:
The gaming company has deliberately ignored the player’s gambling addiction and has, through constant incentives, worsened his financial situation.
Stockholm District Court
Holknekt accuses Kindred Group of a wide range of control deficiencies and irregularities in the way Unibet ignores and exploits its customers’ gambling addiction. In Holknekt’s lawsuit, it is also claimed that there are clear indications of a lack of control regarding, among other things, money laundering.
Unibet and Kindred Group have not commented on the lawsuit.