Spelinspektionen Seeks to Reinstate Fine Against Svenska Spel

The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) is set to appeal a court decision to overturn a multi-million fine against Svenska Spel. The regulator insisted that the operator had breached its responsible gambling obligations.

The State-Owned Operator Was Fined over RG Failings

Earlier this month, a Swedish administrative court reversed a 2024 ruling by the Spelinspektionen, in which the regulator had imposed a SEK 100 million (roughly $10.5 million) fine on state-owned operator Svenska Spel. In its decision, the authority argued that the operator had violated its responsible gambling commitments by failing to prevent excessive gambling.

In its decision, the Spelinspektionen noted that it had reviewed Svenska Spel’s 10 biggest-spending customers during a set period in 2021 and determined that they exhibited signs of excessive gambling. The Spelinspektionen also reviewed Svenska Spel’s measures to protect these players and found them lacking. According to the regulator, Svenska Spel’s warnings to the players lacked decisiveness and efficiency, resulting in potential harm.

As a result of the reported violations, the regulator opted to impose the fine.

Spelinspektionen Insists on the Fine

Svenska Spel quickly appealed the decision, asserting that it had complied with the conditions of its license under Sweden’s Gambling Act by consistently monitoring its players’ behavior and implementing responsible gambling measures when necessary.

After reviewing the matter, the administrative court agreed that the customers in question exhibited signs of problem gambling but sided with the operator since the Spelinspektionen had failed to prove that Svenska Spel’s actions necessitated regulatory intervention.

The Spelinspektionen continued to insist that the operator had violated Sweden’s responsible gambling rules, saying that this was a sufficient reason for a fine. As a result, the regulator is now seeking to overturn the court’s decision and reinstate the fine.

BOS Calls for the Sale of Svenska Spel

In the meantime, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), has continued to call for the privatization of Svenska Spel, arguing that governments should not run gambling operations. Considering the operator’s regulatory failures, the BOS argued that Svenska Spel undermines the credibility of state-owned companies.

In addition to that, the association said that having a state-owned company risks undermining public trust in the state as an impartial enforcer of rules.

Earlier this year, the Swedish government decided to introduce changes to Svenska Spel’s board and nominated the experienced Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt as chairwoman. The operator hailed the appointment, lauding the new chair as an experienced executive with many years of international corporate experience.