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BOS Claims Swedish Banking Institutions Have Suspended Services Provided to Licensed Gambling Operators

Published

5 years ago

April 26, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary-general of the Swedish trade association Branscheforenigen för Onlinespel (BOS), has claimed that all of the country’s major banking institutions have suspended services they provide to licensed gambling operators.

BOS said that “all major Nordic banks” – including SEB, Swedbank, Nordea, Handelsbanken, DNB Nor and Danske Bank – stopped providing services to Swedish-licensed gambling operators at some point this year.

Claiming this is in violation of Swedish law, Hoffstedt has filed a complaint to the country’s Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen).

Most of these banks, Hoffstedt said, cited internal risk assessments or Sweden’s Anti-Money Laundering Act (PTL) as the reasons for account closures. The BOS secretary-general added that “in some cases the banks have not stated any reason at all”.

“As far as I am aware, no concrete justification for the dismissals and banks’ assessment has been provided in any case,” Hoffstedt said.

Hoffstedt added that gambling operators cannot function without banking services.

“Online gambling companies are, as stated above, dependent on basic financial infrastructure in the form of banking and payment services to conduct their business,” he explained. “This requires [them] to be able to store customers’ funds as well as receive deposits and make payments to customers.”

He added that the suspension of services meant that operators could no longer use Bank-ID, used to verify players’ identities. This meant they had lost access to a tool that was vital for fighting fraud and money laundering, Hoffstedt.

“Without access to the Bank-ID system, online gambling companies need to use alternative solutions to identify their customers. These solutions risk being neither as effective for companies nor as safe for users,” he explained.

Swedish Banks also provide the Swish payment service, which Hoffstedt said was also “very important” for operators.

Hoffstedt said that the banks’ decisions had worsened operating conditions for the country’s igaming licensees, as well as counteracting the goals of the Gambling Act.

He went as far as arguing that the actions were illegal.

Hoffstedt said banks have a contractual obligation to continue to provide banking services to these customers, unless there is a clear reason to break this agreement. Only in incidents where continuing to provide banking services would violate the PTL, or if the banking customer had committed misconduct, could agreements be broken, he claimed.

While Hoffstedt noted that banks may terminate agreements if they suspect a customer has connections to money laundering, he pointed out the PTL made clear that these assessments are at the customer level. They can, therefore, not be applied on a sweeping basis to a legal industry.

“Given that a large proportion of BOS members also received notice or notice of termination from the banks – all with general and overarching references to the risk of money laundering in the business – it seems obvious that the basis for the dismissals is a general business policy decision rather than a valid application of PTL,” he said.

“Under these circumstances, there is no possibility for the banks to deviate from their contractual obligation.”

BOS requested a dialogue with the Financial Supervisory Authority and said the regulator “should initiate a supervisory investigation of the banks’ handling and possibly intervene against the banks”.

SEB – one of the banks mentioned by BOS – however, argued it was not systematically ending relationships with gambling operators but rather examined the risk for every client on an individual basis.

“We always make an individual assessment of individual client relationships,“ SEB said. “When it comes to gambling companies, we generally have a cautious approach based on the raised risk level, not least connected to risks relating to money laundering and financial crime.”

Danske Bank, meanwhile, denied it had a policy specifically preventing gambling businesses from operating, but did say these businesses undergo a stricter screening process.

“Danske Bank does not exclude banking services for gambling operations as such,” Danske Bank said. “However, our assessment is that the gambling industry in general is associated with high risk and due to that we have tailored screening principles to ensure that the companies operate responsibly.

“In a case where a specific gambling client does not meet the requirements of our KYC-process or ESG-assessment, the ultimate consequence could be that we limit our offerings or refrain from enter into a business relationship.”

2026 FIFA World Cup

Playradar ships four football-themed casino games ahead of 2026 World Cup

Published

51 minutes ago

June 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

playradar-ships-four-football-themed-casino-games-ahead-of-2026-world-cup

Sportradar’s iGaming brand leads with bracket-style World Football x2026, plus updates to Virtual Football and Lucky 6.

Playradar, Sportradar’s iGaming brand, has released four football-themed titles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11. The drop includes two original games and two updated versions of existing products.

The releases are World Football x2026, Virtual Football World Championship 2026, Football Plinko Pro, and Lucky 6: Football edition. Playradar said the games are designed to target different player segments and to connect sports bettors and casino players through content that links both verticals.

The headline launch, World Football x2026, is a bracket-based game using Mines-style mechanics. Players pick outcomes from the Round of 16 and progress through each round to the final; one incorrect prediction ends the game, while a cash-out option is available.

The other launches include Football Plinko Pro, which adapts the plinko format to a football theme; Virtual Football World Championship 2026, which Playradar said runs a 32-team, 64-match World Cup structure with pre-match and in-play markets such as over/under goals and goalscorer; and Lucky 6: Football Edition, a bingo-style title using balls with flags from participating nations.

Edo Haitin, EVP of iGaming said: “The scale of the 2026 World Cup is unprecedented, with the sheer volume of fans entering markets worldwide creating huge demand for football-themed content, and the operators best placed to succeed are those with games that meet every need. These four titles have each been designed with that in mind. The World Cup attracts a huge spectrum of customers, and when taken together, this product stack provides operators with the tools needed to keep them engaged throughout the tournament.”

The post Playradar ships four football-themed casino games ahead of 2026 World Cup appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

1spin4win

1spin4win welcomes the football season with a brand-new release, Lucky Goal

Published

51 minutes ago

June 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

1spin4win, an established classic online slot provider, presents Lucky Goal, a sports-themed game that captures the atmosphere of a major football competition.

The latest release transports players to the night of the big final. In Lucky Goal, the stakes are higher than ever — the outcome of the game will decide who takes the 1spin4win Cup home. Taking the role of the team’s star striker, players enter the 4×4 pitch to lead the attack and chase winning combinations worth up to x1500 of the original bet.

When the match starts heading towards a draw, Coins can turn the score around. Once three or more of them appear on the reels in one spin, their values combine to boost the payout and bring the team one step closer to victory.

The storytelling behind Lucky Goal is supported by a vibrant, themed visual design. The game is set against the backdrop of a crowded, neon-lit football stadium, while the 4×4 layout features symbols closely associated with the sport, including a football, goalkeeper gloves, a referee’s whistle, and the 1spin4win Cup itself. The music further enhances the atmosphere, resembling iconic football anthems.

In addition to its rich visuals and engaging gameplay, the new release delivers fast load times and uninterrupted performance across all devices, even on weaker internet connections. For the convenience of a broad international audience, Lucky Goal also supports multiple fiat and cryptocurrencies.

The focus on accessible, high-performing content is part of 1spin4win’s broader approach to global growth. Today, the provider continues to expand its network of over 1,000 partners, working with renowned iGaming brands such as STAKE.MX, 1win, LevelUP, BitStarz, gg.bet, WinSpirit, mBit, Pin-Up, 1xBet, PlayAmo, and others.

Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win, “For us, Lucky Goal is an exciting project, as it marks our first sports-inspired release. We wanted to keep the slot true to 1spin4win’s signature style, with straightforward gameplay and a strong math model, while bringing more life to the theme through animation and sound effects. We’re happy to join the football season with a release that helps players immerse themselves in the high-spirited atmosphere of a major sports event.”

About 1spin4win

1spin4win is an established game provider founded in May 2021 by ambitious developers with over 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since its inception, the company has expanded its portfolio to include over 200 classic online slots, all characterized by quality mathematics, transparent mechanics, and well-balanced gameplay — key factors that drive strong player retention. The studio aims to release an average of four new games each month in 2026 and offers effective promotional tools for casino operators to help them enhance player loyalty.

The post 1spin4win welcomes the football season with a brand-new release, Lucky Goal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Altenar

Altenar Named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year at SBC Americas Awards 2026

Published

51 minutes ago

June 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

altenar-named-sportsbook-supplier-of-the-year-at-sbc-americas-awards-2026

Leading sportsbook platform Altenar has been named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Americas Awards 2026, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The award recognises Altenar’s continued commitment to delivering high-performance sportsbook technology that enables operators to grow across the diverse and rapidly evolving regulated markets of the Americas.

Bringing together stakeholders from North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, the SBC Americas Awards celebrate excellence across the betting and gaming industry, recognising operators and suppliers that are driving innovation and raising industry standards throughout the region.

The latest recognition reinforces Altenar’s position as one of the industry’s leading sportsbook providers, trusted by operators across multiple regulated jurisdictions for its flexible, scalable and data-driven solutions.

The award comes during a period of significant momentum for the company in the Americas.

Earlier this week, Altenar announced that it had received approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), enabling the company to provide sportsbook solutions in Alberta ahead of the launch of the province’s regulated online gaming market.

Charlie Williams Commercial Director at Altenar, said:

“Winning ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ is a tremendous achievement for our entire team. The Americas have become one of the most dynamic and strategically important regions for our business, with opportunities emerging across both established and newly-regulated markets.

“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it reflects the work we are doing across the entire region. From North America to Latin America, operators are looking for technology partners that can provide flexibility, reliability and local expertise. Our focus remains on helping them succeed with sportsbook solutions that are tailored to their specific commercial and regulatory requirements”.

Through its award-winning platform and continued investment across the region, Altenar is helping operators unlock sustainable growth and capitalise on the significant opportunities emerging throughout the Americas.

The post Altenar Named Sportsbook Supplier of the Year at SBC Americas Awards 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.