Swedish Gambling Authority Issues Penalties for Responsible Gambling Failures

Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) imposed substantial fines on two gambling operators, Glitnor Services and Roar Vegas, for failing to meet responsible gambling standards.

Both companies were found to have neglected their obligations to protect players from excessive gambling, leading to financial penalties and a call for significant improvements in their customer care practices.

Glitnor Services Faces SEK 28m Fine for Lapses in Customer Protection

Glitnor Services, which operates the LuckyCasino platform, has been fined SEK 28 million (approximately $2.79 million) for breaching the responsible gambling regulations under Sweden’s Gambling Act. The Swedish Gambling Authority’s audit of Glitnor’s operations revealed that out of 12 customers assessed, 10 were not adequately assisted when they began exhibiting signs of problematic gambling behavior.

One of the most concerning cases involved a customer who placed 3,200 bets in just five and a half hours. Another individual lost 24% of their annual income over three days, highlighting a severe lack of intervention from Glitnor’s team.

Although the company reached out to some of the affected players, these efforts were deemed ineffective as they did not result in a change in gambling behavior. The Authority criticized Glitnor for failing to take more decisive actions and escalated measures to prevent further harm.

Additionally, three of the affected individuals were between the ages of 18 and 24, a demographic identified as particularly vulnerable to gambling-related issues. Despite implementing loss limits and reaching out to customers, Glitnor’s actions were seen as insufficiently timely and impactful.

In response to the ruling, Glitnor has expressed its intention to appeal the fine, describing the judgment as unjust and based on vague regulatory interpretations. The company stated that all the violations occurred before 2023 and that it was committed to upholding a robust responsible gambling framework.

Roar Vegas Penalized SEK 8m for Insufficient Gambling Safeguards

Roar Vegas, which operates the LeoVegas website, received a smaller fine of SEK 8 million (approximately $801,000) following a similar investigation by the Swedish Gambling Authority. The audit revealed that Roar Vegas failed to protect three of its 12 customers, who showed clear signs of excessive gambling.

Among the troubling cases, one player was regularly logged in for between six and twelve hours per day, while another player spent 16 hours logged into their in one session. Despite having implemented deposit limits, Roar Vegas’ interventions were deemed insufficient, as these measures were not put in place soon enough to mitigate the harm caused.

Similar to Glitnor, Roar Vegas primarily relied on automated communications and deposit limits, which the Swedish Gambling Authority found to be ineffective in curbing risky gambling behavior. The regulator emphasized the need for more proactive and immediate responses to players exhibiting dangerous gambling patterns.

The audit revealed that some of the identified at-risk players were gambling late at night, a known indicator of potential problem gambling. Other patterns of concerning behavior included rapid loss of deposits and frequent, high-volume betting sessions. These behaviors align with the recently published list of risky gambling indicators by the Netherlands’ KSA, which has been adopted by several other gambling regulators, including the Swedish Gambling Authority.

The Swedish Gambling Authority’s Regulatory Pressure on Operators

The penalties imposed on Glitnor and Roar Vegas are part of the Swedish Gambling Authority’s ongoing effort to ensure that operators comply with the strict requirements of the Gambling Act. Both companies were found to have failed in their duty to protect their customers from excessive gambling, and the fines reflect the severity of these violations.

In its final assessment, the Swedish Gambling Authority acknowledged that both Glitnor and Roar Vegas had cooperated during the investigation. However, the regulator maintained that the lack of effective intervention warranted substantial fines. These actions reinforce the Swedish Gambling Authority’s commitment to upholding responsible gambling practices and safeguarding consumers.

Source:

‘’Spelinspektionen fines Glitnor SEK 28m and Roar Vegas SEK 8m’’, gamblinginsider.com, March 25, 2025.