Compliance Updates
Anger in the Industry After the Swedish Gambling Authority’s Acquittal of Infiniza
Last Friday, Di wrote about how the Swedish Gambling Authority closed an investigation into the Malta-based casino operator Infiniza, whose online casino, according to the authority’s assessment, is not aimed at Swedes. This is after the company changed the payment operator, i.e. who manages the transfer of gambling money from bank accounts to the casino, and the criteria that determine whether someone directs gambling at Swedes are not considered fulfilled.
Actions Did The Trick For Infiniza
“In light of the measures Infiniza Limited has taken regarding the company’s marketing as well as the payment options and/or payment service providers that were the subject of the current supervisory case, the Swedish Gambling Inspectorate assesses that the company, based on what emerged in the case, ceased to provide gambling aimed at the Swedish market without necessary license”
From the Gambling Authority’s decision that Infiniza review ceases, 21/2 2024.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, general secretary of the licensed gambling operators’ association The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (Bos), is upset.
“It is offensive, and endangers the entire safety and security of the Swedish gambling license system,” he told Di about the Spelinspektionen’s decision, which he read about “with dismay” in Di.
According to Gustaf Hoffstedt, who refers to web traffic statistics that Di has taken part in, Infiniza is one of Sweden’s largest players in online casinos.
“They are estimated to have a significant operation in Sweden, in fact a large part of it is intended to receive Swedish consumers. It is of course extremely profitable, as they do not pay any Swedish gambling tax.”
The Swedish Gambling Authority’s decision has been made after Infiniza’s casinos changed their payment provider to one based in Lithuania. In the past, the Swedish-registered payment services Finshark and Zimpler reviewed by Di have been used.
“That’s exactly how it goes: if someone shines a spotlight on the fact that payment intermediaries ‘blue’ are not okay, payment intermediaries become ‘red’, then ‘green’, then ‘purple’ – and it goes on forever.”
Gustaf Hoffstedt calls for stricter legislation similar to that in the Netherlands, where it is forbidden to even accept domestic players – whereby more people play with the licensed players.
“The basic problem is the scope of the Swedish law, that is to say that unlicensed gambling companies are not explicitly prohibited from passively accepting Swedish players, provided that the company does not target them,” he says.
For several years, BOS has addressed the problem to both governments, investigators and the Gambling Authority and called for the Netherlands’ example to be followed, with the criminalization of passively accepting and enabling Swedish players.
However, the organization has cut stone in stone, and has not received a hearing for its proposal.
“The government does not want this. It claims that the channelization (the percentage of licensed gamblers, Di’s note) is good in Sweden, which unfortunately is not true, that the gambling market is stable, which is also not true, and that this is not a path that Sweden should follow.”
Marcus Aronsson, investigator at Spelinspektionen, told Di that the decision from last Friday only concerns Infiniza’s use of Zimpler, and that the just concluded case was already started in 2021.
He cannot comment on whether the payment company or companies used thereon means that Infiniza can be considered to target Swedes, nor whether a new review of the operator has been initiated after the Zimpler case.
In the decision, however, it is explicitly mentioned that the Swedish Gambling Authority can initiate a new supervisory case if Infiniza can again be considered to target the Swedish market without the necessary license.
The Swedish government has appointed Peter Knutsson as the Director General of the Swedish Gambling Authority. The appointment will run until 31 August 2032.
Peter Knutsson most recently came from the role of Advertising Ombudsman and will take up his position as Director General on 17 August 2026.
Peter Knutsson took office as Advertising Ombudsman in August 2024, and was previously Head of Unit at the Ministry of Finance. He has over 20 years of experience as a manager and leader and has a background as a lawyer, with solid knowledge of consumer issues and consumer legislation. Peter Knutsson has previously worked for the European Commission and as an advisor to the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.
“With the solid experience Peter Knutsson has from, among other things, the Ministry of Finance, consumer affairs and most recently the Advertising Ombudsman, this will be very good for the authority,” said Spelinspektionen’s Chairwoman Madelaine Tunudd.
“I welcome the government’s decision on a new Director General for the Swedish Gambling Authority and will ensure that Peter Knutsson receives a good introduction in my handover as acting Director General,” said Johan Röhr at the Swedish Gambling Authority.
The post Peter Knutsson Becomes New Director General of Swedish Gambling Authority appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
Dutch Gambling Regulator Points Out to Providers Limits of Sports Betting License
The Dutch Gambling Regulator (KSA) has reminded sports betting license holders of the limits of their licenses. Supervision has revealed that several providers offered bets that do not fall within the licensed category of sports betting. This included, among other things, bets on prize competitions, such as a Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize. In such cases, the license holders involved were addressed, and these bets were immediately removed by the license holders.
Only betting on sports matches is allowed.
Pursuant to the Remote Gambling Decree, sports betting license holders may only offer bets on events during a sports match or on the outcome of a sports match.
In addition, a sports competition must take place within organized sport recognized by NOC*NSF or similar international sports organisations.
Bets on other events are not covered by this. This applies, for example, to prize competitions where the outcome is determined by a jury or panel and does not result directly from a sports match or an event during a sports match. Bets on, for example, political elections or athlete transfers are also not permitted.
Responsibility lies with the permit holder
License holders remain personally responsible for the gaming offerings they provide, even when using external platforms or sportsbook providers.
The KSA said it expects providers to continuously monitor their offerings and take appropriate measures to prevent prohibited bets. If unauthorised bets are nevertheless offered, immediate action must be taken. The KSA will continue to supervise the gaming offerings of license holders.
The post Dutch Gambling Regulator Points Out to Providers Limits of Sports Betting License appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has become the first international gaming lab to be accredited in Ukraine.
GLI Europe B.V. was appointed by Ukrainian regulatory authority, PlayCity, as both a testing/certification and inspection body for gambling equipment in the country and is currently the only foreign entity to be accredited.
GLI Europe B.V. will perform testing and certification of all gaming related hardware and software in accordance with the requirements of PlayCity and the Ukrainian gaming regulatory framework. GLI will deliver all Ukrainian certification services through its European operational hub, GLI Europe B.V., ensuring certification is conducted under GLI’s ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, and 17065 accreditations.
The company will work with both foreign and Ukrainian suppliers, whereas Ukraine is considered a regulated market, and suppliers will need to hold a certificate of approval from PlayCity in order to request certification for the market.
“We are grateful for the trust PlayCity has placed in GLI. At GLI, we work with regulators in more than 710 jurisdictions, and we will bring our global expertise to PlayCity and to suppliers who wish to enter the Ukrainian market, guaranteeing the highest levels of testing quality and compliance,” said James Boje, Managing Director, EMEIA.
The post GLI Becomes First International Gaming Lab to be Accredited in Ukraine appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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