The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has announced a ban on yet another unlicensed gambling operator, just days after revealing plans for an upcoming industry seminar.
Illegal Gambling Operator Banned
Spelinspektionen has issued a ban against Goodwin NV, a Curaçao-based operator holding license number OGL/2024/758/0228. Despite having a license in the Dutch Caribbean, Goodwin lacked the necessary permission to operate in Sweden. The authority discovered that the operator’s immerion.com brand was accessible to Swedish customers. After conducting a “test purchase,” Spelinspektionen found:
- The website featured information in Swedish
- A FAQ section was available in Swedish
- Goodwin had agreements with affiliate websites targeting Swedish consumers
- Swedish players could create accounts and play on the site
Based on these findings, Spelinspektionen determined that Goodwin’s immerion.com brand was unlawfully targeting players in Sweden. The authority reiterated that only licensed gambling companies can legally operate in Sweden and warned offshore operators of the risks of bans and penalties.
Industry Seminar Announcement
Four days ago, Spelinspektionen announced an upcoming industry seminar in Stockholm, scheduled for March 11. The seminar will gather industry stakeholders to discuss the future of the Swedish gaming market. Spelinspektionen’s director general, Camilla Rosenberg, will speak at the event, providing insights into the state of the gambling industry.
Illegal gambling will be a key topic at the seminar. Spelinspektionen will present a report on the issue and host a panel discussion with representatives from the legal industry. Speakers will address the promotion of offshore sites by gambling influencers and explore ways to counter this.
In collaboration with the Public Health Authority, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, and the Swedish Association of Gambling Addiction, Spelinspektionen will also focus on gambling harm prevention, especially among younger players.
Gambling CEOs will discuss the positive aspects of the industry and share their forecasts for its economic impact.
The seminar will cost SEK 1,000 for in-person attendees and SEK 500 for digital participants. Interested parties should register by February 28.
Rejection of Self-Exclusion Data Breach Rumors
In other news, Spelinspektionen has rejected claims of leaked data from the country’s self-exclusion scheme, following a report by the P1 documentary Kasinoläkkan that mentioned an alleged data breach of Spelpaus, Sweden’s national self-exclusion register. While the authority firmly denied the data breach, it acknowledged certain issues with the self-exclusion scheme. The regulator noted that self-excluded players have still been targeted by unlicensed offshore companies.
