Swedish gambling regulator goes after Versus Odds B.V.

The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has gone after another unlicensed in the country operator – Versus Odds B.V. According to the watchdog, Versus Odds B.V. has been offering unlicensed games of chance to Swedish customers.

Sweden ousts another gambling company over unlicensed casino games

The regulator published its findings in a detailed case on its official website and published a decision by which it has officially banned Versus Odds B.V. from providing products to players in Sweden. This decision has an immediate effect.

Spelinspektionen investigated a particular casino brand, fortunepanda, and determined that the website had been offering products without first seeking a license from the country regulator. There have been several reasons for Spelinspektionen to determine that this was indeed the case.

The regulator confirmed that it had made a "test purchase" proving that the website was accessible to Swedish customers. Furthermore, the website was in fact translated into Swedish, which shows intent on the part of the operator to cater to local customers.

The website further offered terms and conditions translated into Swedish, explaining participation into the website, Spelinspektionen further noted, and had policy documents in the language. Another red flag was the availability of a FAQ section that was again translated and available in Swedish.

As per the country’s Gambling Act, Chapter 3, Section 3, in order to provide online casino games of chance, a company needs to seek and receive the appropriate license from Spelinspektionen. No such license has ever been granted to Versus Odds B.V.

In a translated statement, the regulator also said that it was allowed to resort to certain measures in order to verify that a website was indeed offering unlawful gambling products to local customers, such as test purchases.

"Spelinspektionen is authorized to make test purchases of gambling services online under a hidden identity if necessary for supervision (Chapter 18, Section 9a of the Gambling Act). The authority can issue orders and prohibitions necessary to ensure compliance with the Gambling Act (Chapter 18, Section 23 of the Gambling Act)," a translated paragraph from the official statement read.

Regulators seek to restrict illegal gambling market, fine culprits

Versus Odds B.V. may no longer offer its products in Sweden. Spelinspektionen can follow up on its ban with various enforcement tools such as payment blockades, blocking the website itself, and imposing fines and penalties.

In the Netherlands, for example, the local regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has threatened and imposed fines against gambling websites deemed illegal.

As the Dutch gambling regulator, however, Spelinspektionen would similarly face difficulties in collecting such financial penalties were it to impose them. The KSA had success last year, settling with two offshore companies who decided to pay to the regulator over the alleged breaches of the country’s gambling laws.

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