Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has issued warnings and fines to two gaming studios for providing games to online gambling websites that are operating illegally in the Swedish market.
According to the announcements, both Panda Bluemoon and Hacksaw Studios were found to have partnerships with gambling websites that have not been issued with the required gaming licenses for Sweden.
Panda Bluemoon was issued with a warning and fined SEK 700,000 ($66,215/€60,922).
Hacksaw Studios was issued with a warning and fined SEK 2.6 million ($245,941/€226,284).
The requirement for a license for gambling software was first introduced into the Gambling Act on the 1st of July 2023.
Spelinspektionen had previously sent a letter in October of 2023 to all licensed software providers in Sweden reminding them of their obligations to ensure that they only provide games software to licensed gambling operators.
In January 2024, an investigation found that Yggdrasil was a supplier of one illegal casino site which had been ordered to withdraw from the Swedish market. The company was fined SEK 300,000 (€26,220/$28,370) and warned not to partner with illegal sites.
Gambling industry analyst with over a decade of experience working with some of the biggest names in the sports-betting, gambling, poker & casino industry.
In a recent development, Swedish authorities have imposed fines on two online gambling operators, Hacksaw and Panda Bluemoon, for their illegal partnerships with unlicensed operators. The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) has been cracking down on illegal gambling activities in the country, and these fines serve as a stern warning to other operators who may be engaging in similar practices.
Hacksaw and Panda Bluemoon were found to have entered into partnerships with unlicensed operators, allowing them to offer their services to Swedish players without the necessary permits. This is a clear violation of Sweden’s gambling laws, which require all operators to be licensed by the SGA in order to offer their services legally in the country.
The fines imposed on Hacksaw and Panda Bluemoon are a significant blow to their operations, as they will now have to pay hefty penalties for their illegal activities. In addition to the fines, the SGA has also ordered both operators to cease their partnerships with the unlicensed operators immediately and to ensure that they are only working with licensed partners in the future.
This crackdown on illegal gambling partnerships is part of the SGA’s ongoing efforts to regulate the online gambling industry in Sweden and protect players from unscrupulous operators. By enforcing strict licensing requirements and penalizing those who violate the law, the SGA is sending a clear message that illegal gambling activities will not be tolerated in the country.
Players in Sweden are advised to only gamble with licensed operators who are in compliance with the law. By doing so, they can ensure that their funds are safe and that they are playing on a fair and regulated platform. The fines imposed on Hacksaw and Panda Bluemoon should serve as a reminder to all operators in the industry to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the SGA, or face similar consequences.
