Per Holknekt, founder of Swedish fashion brand Odd Molly, has filed a 25-page lawsuit against Kindred Group seeking 10 million Swedish kronor (US$978,355) for damages allegedly fueling his gambling addiction. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
compensation claim
Swedish businessman and fashion designer Per Holkenkot is suing global online gambling company Kindred Group and its Swedish subsidiary Spooniker Ltd for 10 million Swedish kronor (US$978,355) in damages. He claims that the operator is fueled by problem gambling.
Gambling losses amounted to 26 million Swedish kronor ($2.5 million)
daily swedish express It was reported this week that Holknect, most famous for the founder of Swedish clothing company Odd Molly, filed a 25-page lawsuit with Stockholm District Court on Monday. He accused the Kindred Unibet sub-brand of “fueling his gambling addiction” which “ultimately got out of hand”.
The news source reported that Holknekt’s gambling losses amounted to 26 million Swedish kronor ($2.5 million) over 15 years.
Battles with addiction
Holknect said Dagens industri He had a Unibet in his sight In August 2020. He told the financial newspaper: “I have been lured into a vicious position of dependency towards gambling companies. I am out of control. Their cunning style has exhausted my last resort.”
According to court documents Holknekt filed on Monday, Kindred “willfully ignored” his gambling addiction and “through persistent urges worsened his financial situation.”
In the past, Holknect has also publicly questioned “big banks investing in these gaming companies”. The fashion designer, who did not hide from recognition of his battles with gambling addiction, became a leading advocate of Swedish gambling reforms.
Holknect also struggled with alcoholism. Police arrested him in 2016 and fined the designer 30,000 Swedish kronor ($2,932) for driving drunk and speeding on his boat.
Swedish problems
express Reports Kindred’s legal representative said the 25-page lawsuit has yet to be read. The Swedish daily added that it had received an SMS from Kindred’s head of communications, Alexander Westrel, stating that the online gambling giant currently had no comment regarding the lawsuit.
No stranger to financial penalties
The company is certainly no stranger to financial penalties in its native Sweden, although these usually come from the national regulatory body, the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA).
In 2020, the SGA hit Kindred with a fine of 100 million Swedish kronor ($12 million) for violations of its affiliate Spooniker bonuses. Fortunately for Kindred, the Swedish Administrative Court in July 2021 reduced the original fine by 50%.
