Betfair Loses Appeal Against Swedish Gambling Fine

Lately, Betfair International failed in its attempt to reverse a penalty levied by the Swedish Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen. The Swedish High Administrative Court upheld the sanction.

The situation originated in 2019 when Betfair was discovered permitting individuals below the age of 18 to engage in sports wagering, a major offense in Sweden. Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gaming regulator, took a firm stance and imposed a substantial 5.5 million Swedish kronor penalty (approximately $522,000) on Betfair.

Unsurprisingly, Betfair contested the fine. They approached the Administrative Court in 2020, but their efforts were unsuccessful. In 2021, they appealed again and managed to secure a reduction of the fine to 4.5 million kronor. While still a considerable amount, it was a minor triumph.

Nevertheless, their most recent appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court proved futile. The court concurred with the lower court’s ruling and directed Betfair to fulfill the payment.

Betfair is not the sole entity to face Spelinspektionen’s scrutiny. Other operators such as SkillOnNet and Betway have also encountered difficulties for breaching gambling regulations. SkillOnNet was found to be providing illicit bonuses and lottery offerings, while Betway was apprehended for unauthorized bonus promotions. They were subjected to fines of 14 million and 4.7 million kronor, respectively. Both companies attempted to appeal but ultimately failed and were instructed to settle the penalties.

Betssons branch, NGG Nordic, had its appeal denied regarding a Swedish Gambling Authority decision from January 2022. The initial penalty of SEK 19 million was lowered to SEK 14 million.