Swedish court issues verdicts on appeals in underage betting cases

Sweden’s Court of Appeals has issued a verdict on 10 appeals in cases involving operators providing betting services on sporting events featuring participants who were mostly under-18, dismissing eight challenges, and reducing two fines.

The sanctions, first announced by the country’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen in July 2019, saw a number of warnings and penalty fees issued after operators were found to have breached rules on sports betting in events with mostly under-18 participants.

All companies involved subsequently appealed the judgements at the country’s Administrative Court, where four appeals were rejected, and six penalties being reduced. A single case was annulled.

Betfair and Coolbet were the operators to have their fines reduced, with Betfair’s fine falling by SEK1 million (€0.01 million) to hit SEK4.5 million (€0.44 million), whereas Coolbet’s was reduced from SEK650,000 (€64,010) to SEK600,000 (€59,160).

Stars Group, which now operates as a part of Flutter owes SEK10 million (€990,000), as does Bet365, on behalf of its Hillside Sports Subsidiary.

Cherry brand Snabbare will be required to pay SEK8 million (€790,000), after having the initial fine reduced at the Administrative Court last year.

Entain-owned ElectraWorks will be required to pay a SEK5.5 million (€540,000) fine, as will ComeOn, which is also a Cherry brand.

Haiper’s penalty stands at SEK4 million (€395,000), and Casinostugan and Secure Gaming will be required to pay SEK3 million (€295,000).