Legislation
Sweden – Swedish regulator fines Videoslots
By Phil - 27 January 2021
The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate has ruled that players at Videoslots have been able to deposit more than the maximum permitted amount of SEK5,000 per week for games on commercial online games (online casino) by cancelling up to two-month-old withdrawals from their gaming accounts.
The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate has ordered Videoslots to immediately end the violation, which means that players can deposit more than SEK 5,000 per week for commercial online gaming. The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate combines the injunction with a fine of SEK 250,000 for each commenced week that the injunction is not complied with, calculated three weeks from the end of the week Videoslots Ltd takes part in the decision.
In the case, Videoslots has also claimed that the Swedish Gaming Inspectorate has been prevented from applying the Government’s ordinance on temporary gambling liability measures. The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate considers, unlike Videoslots, that the regulation is applicable.
A spokesperson for Videoslots said: “Videoslots notes the decision made by the Swedish regulator and is pleased that it confirms compliant implementation of the bonus, deposit and time limits put in place by the Swedish government to counter a perceived increase of risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the decision, these regulations also prohibit the withdrawal-related functionality which remained in question. We will comply and remove this functionality, having already offered to do so during the assessment.
“We do not, however, believe that we were in breach of the COVID-19, or any other regulations, and call for greater clarity to aid responsible operators like ourselves. Furthermore, we maintain our position that these regulations are both unreasonable and unjustifiable,” the spokesperson added. “Not only are they contradicted by facts and damaging to licensed operators, they are also completely counterproductive to their declared aim of player protection and push players into the arms of illegal operators. We will therefore continue to challenge these regulations.”
