Spelinspektionen Issues Actions Against Unlicensed Gambling

Spelinspektionen Issues Actions Against Unlicensed Gambling

Sweden's gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has initiated a series of enforcement measures that affect both offshore operators without licenses and domestically licensed entities. The actions appear to reflect a strategy prioritizing market integrity and reinforcing the country's legal framework around online gambling.

Three companies—EOD Code SRL, Igloo Ventures SRL, and MIBS NV—were recently prohibited from offering gambling services in Sweden. According to the regulator, these businesses lacked the required local licenses and had directed marketing efforts at Swedish consumers through various online channels. The authority cited examples such as affiliate campaigns, Swedish-language advertising, and content published by influencers on platforms like Instagram and Twitch.

These recent prohibitions are part of a broader enforcement pattern. Just weeks prior, similar actions were taken against three other unlicensed operators: Newera Frozen PTE Limited, Aprodi Limited, and Galaktika NV. In each case, the regulator identified attempts to access the Swedish market indirectly, despite the absence of formal authorization.

Spelinspektionen emphasized its objective to ensure that gambling within its borders is conducted exclusively through Swedish licensed operators. To this end, the regulator has also begun publicly documenting the rationale for its enforcement decisions, which will likely increase transparency and deter similar activities from others operating without approval.

While the spotlight has often fallen on offshore companies, licensed firms are also under growing scrutiny. The regulator has initiated a supervisory review of More Tech Group, a company holding a Swedish license and operating several lottery-based websites, including lottoexperten.se, lottoexperten.com, and superlottoclub.com. The probe will examine whether the group has fulfilled key obligations under Swedish law.

The specific points under investigation are the requirements to obtain explicit consent for telephone-based sales, the prohibition on promoting gambling using credit, and the enforcement of identity checks through the Spelpaus self-exclusion register. These areas have emerged as key benchmarks for assessing compliance with the Gambling Act.

Though the review is still in its early stages, it signals a growing emphasis on procedural conformity, especially concerning customer protection measures. The use of self-exclusion databases, particularly, has become central to Sweden's approach to harm reduction in gambling.

A separate case involving Kindred Group's subsidiary, Spooniker, illustrates the consequences of non-compliance. Earlier this month, the operator was issued a fine of SEK 10 million (approximately €920,000). The penalty was linked to shortcomings in its customer due diligence processes, specifically relating to verifying players' sources of funds.

Spelinspektionen concluded that Spooniker had not implemented sufficient safeguards to assess the financial origins of customer transactions, potentially creating an environment more susceptible to money laundering risks. The regulator noted that the fine also reflected a previous compliance issue identified in 2022.

Spooniker's response pointed to its use of Sweden's Bank-ID system and risk classification procedures, asserting that its internal controls were aligned with prevailing standards. However, after reviewing transaction records, the regulator decided that the measures in place did not satisfy the legal expectations outlined in the Gambling Act.

Taken together, these regulatory moves reflect a tightening of oversight across both unlicensed and licensed segments of the market. The message is clear for international operators lacking a Swedish license: indirect access strategies will continue to face resistance. Spelinspektionen appears to be actively monitoring how gambling products are marketed and distributed, regardless of geographic location or business structure.

For licensed operators, the landscape is becoming more compliance-intensive. The regulator's growing focus on customer protection protocols, transaction monitoring, and responsible gambling tools means that any lapse—intentional or not—may trigger formal reviews or financial penalties.

The implications extend beyond Sweden's borders. As national regulators across Europe seek to align their standards and coordinate enforcement, operators are being pressured to build region-specific compliance frameworks. This may result in higher operational costs and the need for more robust internal procedures.

These developments may make fewer offshore platforms accessible from Sweden for online casino players, particularly as enforcement around marketing activities becomes more precise. At the same time, stronger controls may increase player safeguards, particularly in financial verification and self-exclusion areas.

Ultimately, these changes represent an effort by Swedish authorities to maintain tighter control over the digital gambling space while balancing market access with regulatory standards. The shift toward public disclosure of enforcement actions, detailed reviews of promotional strategies, and broader checks on internal compliance systems may serve as a model for other jurisdictions navigating similar regulatory challenges.