Swedish Regulator Bans Three Operators for Targeting Swedish Players
Date: 2024-03-29 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: EVENTS
Operators Banned for Unlicensed Gambling
Sweden's gambling regulatory body, Spelinspektionen, has issued bans against three operators for violating gambling laws in the country. Newera Frozen PTE Limited and Aprodi Limited were found to be organizing illegal "skin" lotteries, targeting Swedish players without holding the necessary licenses.
What are "Skin" Lotteries?
These lotteries enable players to use in-game items called "skins" as currency for betting. Skins hold monetary value outside of video games and are tradable commodities. The operators, Newera Frozen PTE and Aprodi, ran websites - Hellcase.com and Key-drop.com respectively, offering various game modes for betting with skins.
Targeting Swedish Players
Spelinspektionen's investigation revealed that both websites actively targeted Swedish players through marketing efforts on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. The regulator classified content as targeting Swedish players based on several factors including language, domain, and payment services used.
Ruling and Response
In response to the investigation, Newera Frozen PTE argued that their loot boxes didn't constitute gambling. However, Spelinspektionen determined that the skins sold on their website hold monetary value, making them subject to Sweden's Gambling Act.
Additional Ban
In addition to Newera Frozen PTE and Aprodi Limited, unlicensed operator Galaktika NV was also banned for targeting Swedish players through Drip.casino. Despite claims of not intentionally targeting Swedish customers, Galaktika NV was found in violation of the Gambling Act.
Consequences
These bans come after Spelinspektionen imposed significant fines on other operators, signaling a strict stance on illegal gambling activities in Sweden. The regulator fined Svenska Spel Sport & Casino and Yggdrasil for various infractions, demonstrating its commitment to upholding gambling laws and ensuring player safety.
