Spelinspektionen Fines Svenska Spel $9.5M for Failures

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, which is the online branch of the state-owned Swedish gambling operator, has been fined SEK100 million ($9.5 million) for several failings related to player duty of care.

Improper Player Safeguards, Says the Regulator 

The penalty fee resulted at the end of an investigation that took place between October and December 2021.

Spelinspektionen, which is the country’s state regulator, included details on how the operator tackled the 10 customers who had lost the largest amount of money during the respective period under supervision in its report. 

According to the regulator, Svenska Spel did not succeed in taking the necessary measures to safeguard players against the risks associated with excessive gambling and assist them with cutting their gambling when it had strong arguments to do it.

Svenska Spel’s Takes the Decision “to Heart”

In response to the penalty fee it was hit with, the digital division’s chief executive officer, Fredrik Wastenson, explained that they were taking the Gambling Inspectorate’s decision “to heart.”

Wastenson added that they have already “addressed many of the views” that resulted from the inspection that covered the October-December 2021 period and ensured they have “a high level of ambition in the work” concerning their gaming responsibility.

Svenska Spel accepted the penalty fee, but at the same time did not share the assessment of the regulator. 

The operator emphasized the need for more clarity in the regulator’s approach when it comes to guidance and supervisory decisions. 

The CEO further explained that, since 2019 when the duty of care was first introduced, its interpretation has become clearer with the help of decisions coming from the Gaming Authority.

He added that, as a result, they have adjusted their work, adding that since 2021 onwards, they have improved their approach to creating better frameworks for responsible gambling, including high-staking customer checks and a boost in the number of welfare calls.

Wastenson also detailed their policy regarding the way the risk of gambling problems should be assessed, explaining the procedure is initiated with an overall assessment of customers’ behaviors via evidence-based research, followed by their effect measurements and the current legislation.

The CEO concluded that, with this decision, “the Swedish Gaming Authority makes a different assessment, which goes further than what can be deduced from the current regulations.”

Svenska Spel might consider appealing the decision.

Last week, Svenska Spel announced it would upgrade its management team with a series of fresh appointments effective April 1.

In February, the operator published its 2023 interim report, signaling stable revenue.