### Svenska Spel Sport & Casino Successfully Appeals SEK100 Million Penalty
Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, the digital division of the national Swedish gambling operator, has won an appeal against a SEK100 million ($10.5 million) penalty and warning issued by the Swedish regulator, Spelinspektionen.
The Administrative Court in Linköping ruled in favor of Svenska Spel on June 2. The allegations against the operator’s digital arm were brought forth in March of the previous year.
Originally, Spelinspektionen accused Svenska Spel of several failures in adhering to player protection standards as mandated by Sweden’s 2019 Gambling Act. These failings were highlighted during an investigation spanning from October to December 2021, where it was found that the operator did not take adequate measures to prevent excessive gambling.
The concerns included the handling of the top 10 customers who had incurred the most significant losses during the supervised period, where it was determined that adequate protective measures were not implemented.
The court’s decision has annulled the initial warning and penalty issued by Spelinspektionen.
### Svenska Spel Advocates for Clearer Regulations
Following the appeal, Svenska Spel has urged for a revision in the regulation concerning duty of care within the Swedish gambling sector. The company believes the current regulations lack clarity, causing operators to frequently fall short.
Fredrik Wastenson, CEO of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino and Business Area Manager, emphasized the importance of clearer guidelines on the duty of care, stating, “There is a need to create greater clarity in the interpretation of the duty of care.”
The company also highlighted the importance of adherence to the legality principle, which the court acknowledged, suggesting that any regulatory measures should be grounded firmly within legal frameworks.
Despite the victory, the case may still see further developments as Spelinspektionen retains the option to appeal the court’s ruling.
### Fines for Anti-Money Laundering Failures Issued Simultaneously
The same day saw Spelinspektionen active in other areas, issuing fines to three companies for failing anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.
Betsson Nordic was fined SEK6.5 million and received a warning for lapses in its AML efforts in Sweden. TSG Interactive, part of Flutter Entertainment, was fined SEK7 million, while Snabbare faced a SEK5.5 million penalty.
These fines are part of a series of actions by the regulator, which had previously fined several charity and political organizations for insufficient oversight of contractors and marketing misdemeanors. Additionally, Kindred’s subsidiary Spooniker received a SEK10 million fine for AML shortcomings, and Videoslots was penalized SEK12 million for not adequately preventing excessive gambling.
These incidents underscore the regulatory focus on both player protection and anti-money laundering efforts within the Swedish gambling sector.