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Tag: spelinspektionen

  • Spelinspektionen Slams Two Unlicensed Gaming Providers with Bans

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    The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has issued bans against two offshore providers of gambling content. According to the authority, the two companies’ products were available in Sweden despite neither possessing a license.

    Two Providers Were Banned for Offering Gaming Illegally

    On August 18, the Spelinspektionen announced that Rabocse SRL has been banned from targeting Sweden with its products. The authority elaborated that the supplier in question lacked the license necessary to offer its products in the country and has therefore been explicitly banned from doing so.

    On the same day, the Spelinspektionen also issued a ban on Solid Software Solutions SRL, another unlicensed provider of gaming software that was found guilty of operating in Sweden without a license. The company was likewise ordered to stop offering its products locally.

    The Spelinspektionen emphasized that it remains committed to tackling illegal operators and suppliers in order to protect the licensed gaming sector.

    BGaming Secured Entry into Sweden

    Speaking of legal gaming, the Spelinspektionen just issued a license to BGaming, a leading provider of iGaming content.

    Thanks to that, BGaming will be able to launch its cutting-edge games in Sweden, allowing local players to experience the best it has to offer. As a result, local operators will be able to incorporate fan favorite games such as Merge Up and Aztec Clusters into their platforms.

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    Fiona Simmons

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  • Spelinspektionen Approves Ban on Credit Cards in Gambling

    Spelinspektionen Approves Ban on Credit Cards in Gambling

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    The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has published an official response to FI2024/00442, a government measure that would ban gambling on credit. The credit card ban has been discussed for several months now and is a measure that has the regulator’s backing.

    According to director general Camilla Rosenberg, the Spelinspektionen believes that the ban on gambling on credit should extend to all forms of gambling. The authority suggested that it should also be able to grant exceptions in specific cases.

    In its official statement, the Spelinspektionen confirmed that it backs the proposal. The Swedish trade association BOS previously slammed the measure and suggested that it would devastate the legal market. On that note, the regulator admitted that there is no official proof of how the measure would affect operators that sell tickets digitally.

    An additional concern was certain ambiguity that made it unclear how the ban would affect players paying wagers with account credits. Since credits linked to a bank account are also account credits, the Spelinspektionen noted that this could mean that licensees must ensure that credit limits are not used for payments with debit cards.

    Since the original proposal does not obligate licensees to investigate such matters, however, the Spelinspektionen concluded that it does not interpret the wording as requiring gambling companies to check whether users’ debit cards have a credit limit.

    Banning gambling with credit cards would align Sweden with other modern regulated markets, such as Australia, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. 

    The Spelinspektionen concluded that the proposal outlined in the memorandum is consistent with the regulator’s proposal.

    The Regulator Continues to Watch over the Market

    In other news, the Spelinspektionen just banned another skins gambling website. WiseAvant OÜ, the company in question, provided games of chance to Swedish customers without possessing the necessary license.

    This came a few months after the authority cracked down on three gambling companies, namely Galaktika NV, Newera Frozen PTE Limited and Aprodi Ltd, two of which also offered skins gambling.

    In other news, ATG’s chief executive officer, Hans Lord Skarplöth, recently suggested that the government might be willing to amend its GGR tax hike proposal. The tax hike has been a controversial measure, which, according to BOS, would be a gift to the black market, if implemented.

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    Fiona Simmons

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  • Yggdrasil Fined in Sweden for Providing Software to Unlicensed Operator

    Yggdrasil Fined in Sweden for Providing Software to Unlicensed Operator

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    The Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) has levied a SEK300,000 ($28,350) fine against Yggdrasil for supplying software to an online gambling operator that lacked a Swedish license, marking the first such penalty under the new B2B licensing requirements. This case serves as a warning to the broader industry, signaling that the SGA will not tolerate licensed entities collaborating with the unregulated sector.

    The SGA Highlighted the Severity of Yggdrasil’s Offense

    The introduction of B2B licensing requirements on 1 July 2023 mandated that companies with a gaming software license refrain from providing software to parties lacking the necessary Swedish license. This measure aims to bolster channelization to the regulated market and curb illegal gambling activities. This newest fine indicates the SGA is willing to enforce its regulations even against high-profile companies.

    The SGA’s investigation, conducted in January 2024, closely examined the websites of several operators prohibited from offering games in Sweden. It found that Yggdrasil had provided software to an operator without a local license. The SGA had banned the operator since October 2021, raising questions regarding Yggdrasil’s involvement with a known black-market entity.

    Upon learning of the violation, Yggdrasil swiftly took corrective action on 23 January, ceasing to supply gaming software to unlicensed operators. The supplier attributed the illegal provision to a contractual breach by a partnering retailer. While acknowledging Yggdrasil’s prompt response and cooperation, the SGA deemed the violations significant enough to warrant a financial penalty and an official warning.

    Sweden Remains Beset by Black-Market Operators

    According to the SGA, frequent violations of that caliber could result in a license suspension for the offending supplier. Fortunately for Yggdrasil, the company’s clean track record and cooperation with the authorities limited the scope of the corrective action. As per Swedish regulations, the SEK300,000 fine was calculated according to Yggdrasil’s turnover from the past financial year.

    While the SGA taking action against offending operators is frequent, going after a supplier sets a new precedent and could result in more investigations of a similar nature. Such measures should hopefully help the country’s ongoing battle against black-market operators, giving them fewer options to source content while channeling more users to the regulated sector.

    The warning against Yggdrasil corresponds with rising concern regarding an increasing number of payment providers catering to the needs of unregulated operators. While the SGA can block payments to offending parties, black-market entities have become adept at bypassing restrictions. Unfortunately, Sweden’s fight against the unregulated sector still appears locked in a stalemate.

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    Deyan Dimitrov

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  • Spelinspektionen to Assess Accounts Used for Criminal Activities

    Spelinspektionen to Assess Accounts Used for Criminal Activities

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    According to a new government mandate from the Swedish authorities, the country’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has been asked to assess all the risks tied to gambling accounts that are used for money laundering and other similar types of criminal activities. 

    Proposals to Be Drafted After the Assessment

    At the end of the thorough reviewing process prompted by task Fi2023/03186, the Swedish Gambling Authority, responsible for guaranteeing the legality, safety, and reliability of the country’s gaming and gambling market, will draft a series of proposals based on Sweden’s socio-economic landscape. 

    The drafts will explain whether there is an additional need to strengthen the current regulatory framework against the respective risks and also how to counteract these potential risks. 

    Spelinspektionen’s assignment will also need to evaluate whether gambling accounts should be covered by the account and safe deposit box system while analyzing the possible effects of gambling accounts added to the system.

    The perspective system has been created to simplify the authorities’ access to information regarding the identity of holders of accounts and safes at financial companies. 

    The Swedish Tax Agency currently displays Mechanism, which is a technical platform that offers connected authorities the chance to directly and immediately get the information they need regarding accounts and safe deposit boxes at credit institutions and investment companies.

    The results of the tasks will need to be reported to the Government Office by May 31, 2024, at the latest.

    Cost Calculation Necessary 

    The assignment also stated that Spelinspektionen needed to report a calculation of the extra costs triggered by the expansion of the account and safe deposit box system in such a manner that it would also include gambling accounts.

    The authority had by March 15, 2024, to report the calculation by relying on data gathered from the Swedish Tax Agency and making sure that the expansion would occur cost-effectively. 

    The calculation was reported to the Ministry of Finance on March 7, 2024. 

    In mid-January, the Swedish Gambling Authority inked a memorandum of understanding with the International Betting Integrity Association that would allow the duo to share information regarding suspicious betting activity identified during Swedish sporting events.

    In September, the country’s government proposed a rise in the money allocated to the Spelinspektionen and Finansinspektionen for 2024 following plans to improve the supervision of the gambling market.
    Two months later, Spelinspektionen gave the green light to proposals asking for increased customer protection and a crackdown on financial crime in the gambling industry.

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    Melanie Porter

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  • Spelinspektionen: Credit Card Ban Isn’t Needed at the Moment

    Spelinspektionen: Credit Card Ban Isn’t Needed at the Moment

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    Sweden’s gambling regulator, the Spelinspektionen, has published a consultation response relating to SOU 2023:38, saying that gambling companies should not encourage their players to loan money. However, the regulator is not convinced that further measures are needed at this moment.

    SOU 2023:38 is a series of proposed measures that concern the extension of the credit ban in the Gambling Act. Under Swedish law, licensed operators and gambling agents in Sweden are prohibited from promoting loans to their players as a way for them to continue playing. Sweden, however, is exploring opportunities for extending the measure and prohibiting the use of credit cards in online gambling.

    The authority noted that the current laws already prohibit licensees from promoting credits to their players. Still, the Spelinspektionen agreed that the prohibition should be communicated more clearly.

    However, the authority noted that, since the current law already prohibits licensees from promoting credits to players, an extension of the measure seems unnecessary. Despite that, the regulator plans to continue investigating the efficiency of the credit card bans in Norway and the United Kingdom.

    For reference, around 60% of the 50 licensed operators in Sweden offer accept credit cards as a payment option.

    The Spelinspektionen also commented on the proposed introduction of a system for debt and credit registers (Skri register) that would provide additional insights into the matter.

    Other News about the Swedish Market

    In other news, the Spelinspektionen just handed a huge fine to Videoslots, claiming that the operator has violated Sweden’s AML and CTF rules. The failings caused the regulator to issue a penalty fee of $809,300 because of the seriousness of the operator’s violations.

    For reference, the gambling authority has been investigating Videoslots’ business since 2021 to confirm whether the company secured sufficient knowledge of its customers. Unfortunately, the Spelinspektionen learned that the gambling company’s efforts were lacking and that its negligence may have facilitated money laundering and terrorism financing.

    Several days ago, the Spelinspektionen published a report on the ongoing review of how collaboration with the Finansinspektionen (Financial Supervisory Authority) can strengthen the efforts against illegal gambling.

    This came after an earlier measure proposed allocating SEK 10.8 million (around $970,000) to the Spelinspektionen’s 2024 budget and another SEK 4.5 million ($400,000) to the Finansinspektionen in 2024, helping the two regulators crack down on unlicensed gambling.

    The two authorities are currently exploring opportunities for blocking payments to and from offshore companies.

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    Fiona Simmons

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  • Spelinspektionen Issues $809,300 Fine to Videoslots over AML Failings

    Spelinspektionen Issues $809,300 Fine to Videoslots over AML Failings

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    Sweden’s gambling regulator, the Spelinspektionen, has issued a penalty fee to Videoslots. According to the authority, the gambling operator failed to properly measure risk and committed anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) violations.

    For reference, Videoslots is a licensed operator that offers gambling in Sweden through its videoslots.com website.

    As noted by the Spelinspektionen, the authority began supervising the operator’s AML protocols back in 2021 as it wanted to confirm whether the company secured sufficient knowledge of its customers. However, the review uncovered failings, confirming the regulators’ suspicions that Videoslots doesn’t properly assess its customers’ risk profiles.

    The violations committed by Videoslots are considered to be very serious, the Spelinspektionen noted. According to the regulator, Videoslots has now received a warning and a penalty fee of SEK 9 million (approximately $809,300) for its breaches, which may have facilitated money laundering and terrorism financing.

    This is one of the bigger fines handed by the Spelinspektionen, which noted that the maximum possible fine, as outlined in the Money Laundering Act, is EUR 1 million (approximately $1.06 million).

    Sweden Is Stepping Up Its Efforts to Combat Illegal Gambling

    In other news, the Spelinspektionen just published a partial report on the ongoing review of how collaboration with the Finansinspektionen (Financial Supervisory Authority) can strengthen the efforts against illegal gambling. The two regulatory bodies are currently evaluating how their efforts can benefit Sweden’s online gambling market.

    As a result, the Spelinspektionen and the Finansinspektionen are exploring synergies and opportunities for payment blocking. The two regulators are also exploring opportunities for data sharing that will enhance their efforts.

    An earlier proposal suggested allocating more money to the two authorities, helping them in their respective tasks. The proposal sought to allocate SEK 10.8 million (around $970,000) to the Spelinspektionen’s 2024 budget and SEK 4.5 million ($400,000) to the Finansinspektionen in 2024.

    Over a month ago, Sweden proposed changes to its Money Laundering Act. Back then, the Spelinspektionen expressed its approval for most of the proposed changes but highlighted a few things that could be better.  The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) also addressed the changes and similarly agreed with most of them but outlined a number of things to keep in mind.

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    Angel Hristov

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