The Swedish Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen, says it will appeal a recent court decision that overturned a major fine against Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB. According to the authority, the ruling goes against earlier court decisions and its own interpretation of what gambling companies are required to do under Swedish law.
In March 2024, the authority issued a warning and hit Svenska Spel with a SEK 100 million ($10.4 million) fine. It said the company had serious shortcomings in how it protected players from excessive gambling, which is a core part of its duty of care.
But on June 2, 2025, the administrative court decided to overturn that ruling. The court agreed with Spelinspektionen that the customers in question had clear signs of excessive gambling. However, it said the authority hadn’t shown that Svenska Spel had failed in its responsibilities badly enough to justify such a serious penalty.
Spelinspektionen överklagar förvaltningsrättens dom gällande Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB. Domen strider mot tidigare domstolsavgöranden och Spelinspektionens egen bedömning av omsorgspliktens omfattning. https://t.co/wxiYwsrNbJ
— Spelinspektionen (@lagligtspel) June 18, 2025
Now, Spelinspektionen is taking the case to the Court of Appeal. In a translated statement, the authority said the decision “is in conflict with previous court decisions and the authority’s own interpretation of the scope of the duty of care.”
“Svenska Spel Sport & Casino neither continuously followed up with the reviewed customers nor took the necessary and individualized actions to limit their gambling.” – Swedish Gambling Authority
Spelinspektionen also criticized the court’s view of the law, saying, “The administrative court incorrectly assumes that the duty of care under Chapter 14, Section 1 of the Gambling Act does not include specific action requirements.” The agency went on to explain, “We believe that the provision imposes clear obligations on a licensee. A licensee must promptly take active measures to protect players from excessive gambling.”
The authority pointed out that gambling companies have to do more than just watch from the sidelines. “A licensee must continuously monitor significant gambling activity and, if necessary, take action in line with the pace of the gambling. A licensee must also proactively limit gambling to prevent harm that excessive gambling can cause.”
The case involves several customers who gambled heavily and lost large amounts of money in just two months. One of them was a young person. Losses ranged from SEK 260,000 ($27,000) to SEK 600,000 ($62,000), and in some cases those losses made up a significant share of the customers’ reported yearly income.
Despite those red flags, the company mostly responded with warnings and general information. According to the authority, “Svenska Spel Sport & Casino neither continuously followed up with the reviewed customers nor took the necessary and individualized actions to limit their gambling.”
Spelinspektionen also raised concerns about fairness, saying, “Spelinspektionen believes that the administrative court evaluated Svenska Spel Sport & Casino differently compared to other sanctioned license holders.”
‘Sanction fee is disproportionate’
However, responding to the ruling, Fredrik Wastenson, Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB’s CEO and business area manager, said: “It is gratifying that the Administrative Court grants our appeal and overturns the Gambling Authority’s decision.
“We appealed because we believe the sanction fee is disproportionate to the shortcomings and because there is a need to create greater clarity in the interpretation of the duty of care.
“We believe that the authority may only take actions supported by the legal system, the so-called principle of legality, which the court has also confirmed.”
Featured image: Canva
