### Svenska Spel Sport & Casino Appeals SEK100 Million Penalty Successfully
Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, the online division of the Swedish state-owned gambling operator, has won its appeal against a SEK100 million ($10.5 million) penalty fee and warning issued by the Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen.
The verdict came from the Administrative Court in Linköping on June 2. The dispute originated from allegations made by Spelinspektionen in March of the previous year, where they charged the digital branch of the operator with various breaches. The accusations centered around inadequate player protection measures which supposedly contravened the 2019 Gambling Act of Sweden, based on findings from an investigation conducted between October and December 2021.
Spelinspektionen specifically criticized the operator’s handling of the 10 customers who had incurred the highest losses during the reviewed period, claiming insufficient action was taken to shield these players from excessive gambling. The court, however, has overturned these charges and the accompanying penalties.
### Svenska Spel Advocates for Clearer Regulations
In response to their victorious appeal, Svenska Spel has voiced the necessity for more explicit guidelines regarding the duty of care expected of gambling operators. Fredrik Wastenson, CEO and business area manager of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, stressed the importance of precise interpretations of these responsibilities.
Svenska Spel’s critique extends to the current regulatory framework, which they argue lacks clarity, leading to continued shortcomings by operators. They asserted that regulatory measures should align strictly with the principle of legality, a sentiment also recognized by the court.
Despite the successful appeal, the company acknowledged that the case might not be concluded as Spelinspektionen retains the right to appeal the court’s decision.
### Additional Fines Issued for AML Breaches
Concurrently, on the same day of Svenska Spel’s ruling, Spelinspektionen fined three other companies for failing to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. Betsson Nordic was fined SEK6.5 million and received a warning, while TSG Interactive, part of Flutter Entertainment, was fined SEK7 million. Additionally, Snabbare faced a sanction fee of SEK5.5 million.
This action continues a series of regulatory responses this year, which previously included penalties against various charity and political groups for oversight failures concerning contractors and marketing infractions. Notably, Kindred’s subsidiary Spooniker was fined SEK10 million, and Videoslots was ordered to pay SEK12 million, both for AML deficiencies and failing in preventing excessive gambling.
These recent events highlight the ongoing enforcement efforts by Spelinspektionen across various aspects of the gambling and betting sector in Sweden.