Swedish Court Rules in Favor of Svenska Spel in SEK 100 Million Fine Dispute

Svenska Spel, Sweden's state-owned company in the regulated gambling market, has achieved a significant breakthrough in its legal battle against a substantial financial penalty imposed by the country's gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen.

Earlier this week, the Administrative Court in Linköping upheld Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB's appeal against the Swedish Gambling Authority's decision to issue a warning and a fine. Although this decision from the gambling regulator has been overturned, it has not yet taken legal effect and may be appealed. This development is significant for Svenska Spel, as the court agreed that the penalty imposed by Spelinspektionen was disproportionate. The legal issue began with a SEK 100 million ($10.4 million) fine and a warning from Spelinspektionen in March 2024. The gambling authority claimed its investigation revealed failures in duty of care for nearly a dozen customers. Spelinspektionen alleged that Svenska Spel failed to adequately protect 10 customers who wagered substantial amounts between October and December 2021, thus violating the Swedish Gambling Act of 2019. Disagreeing with the severity of this penalty, Svenska Spel sought a legal resolution. This latest development follows recent actions taken by the Swedish Gambling Authority against three other licensed operators. Late last week and early this week, Spelinspektionen issued fines and warnings to TSG Interactive PLC, Snabbare Ltd, and Betsson Nordic Ltd for shortcomings in customer due diligence.

Fredrik Wastenson, CEO and Business Area Manager of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB, shared insights in a press release covered by Casino House Group News. We are pleased that the Administrative Court has ruled in our favor, overturning the Swedish Gambling Authority's decision, he expressed. Wastenson also mentioned Svenska Spel's plan to appeal the substantial fine, arguing it was disproportionate while recognizing the need for clearer duty of care regulations. He further stated, We believe the authority should only take actions supported by legal principles, known as the principle of legality, which the court has affirmed. In April, Svenska Spel published its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. Despite a decline in overall revenue for the quarter, this was somewhat mitigated by an increase in online gambling revenue.