Summary
- The Swedish Gambling Authority targets two unlicensed operators within the country.
- Bitx Operations and Ryker are reportedly extending their gambling services to Swedish players without holding a valid license.
- Spelinspektionen is navigating a period of change following the departure of its leader, Camilla Rosenberg.
Spelinspektionen has intensified its efforts to combat illegal gambling in Sweden, where the regulatory body is headquartered. The organization recently called out Bitx Operations and Ryker as the newest offenders, accusing them of reaching out to local players without the requisite licenses.
Companies without licenses are ousted from the market
Spelinspektionen has put its foot down, banning unlicensed third-party websites from offering gambling services within the country. The regulator is determined to put an end to these unauthorized operations cluttering up the market. The two companies in question, both based in Curacao, were named and shamed by the regulator, which made it clear that foreign businesses can't legally operate without securing the proper licenses. Although it's unclear if there will be financial penalties, the message was loud and clear: both companies must halt all operations in Sweden immediately. These websites had been targeting Swedish customers by offering services in the local language and collaborating with Swedish-speaking affiliates to strengthen their foothold. Now, they must face the consequences of their actions.
Making the domestic market competitive once again
Offshore operators have long been a thorn in the side of Sweden's gambling industry. This issue was boldly addressed in a recent letter from the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BoS), urging lawmakers and regulators to confront the stark reality: the offshore market is prevailing, consistently overshadowing the domestic, regulated sector. BoS emphasized that establishing a comprehensive inquiry focused on preventing the shift towards unlicensed gambling would be the government's most critical step in safeguarding and fortifying the legal market. This needs to happen before Sweden heads to the polls next September.
