Spelinspektionen bans WinBet for targeting Swedish players

The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has officially issued a prohibition against WinBet NV, a Curaçao-registered gambling operator, for unlawfully providing gambling services to Swedish consumers. According to the authority’s findings, the company was offering online gambling via the website Superb.bet, using the Swedish language and accepting transactions in Swedish krona, which under Swedish law constitutes an unlawful targeting of the local market.

This decisive regulatory move underscores Sweden’s continued effort to ensure the integrity of its reformed gambling market by restricting unlicensed operators. The Swedish Gambling Act (2018:1138), which came into effect in January 2019, mandates that any company wishing to offer gambling services to Swedish residents must obtain a valid Swedish licence and comply with the local regulatory framework.

How Spelinspektionen determined WinBet's targeting of Sweden

Spelinspektionen’s investigation revealed that Superb.bet, the site in question, automatically switched its content to Swedish language when accessed from Swedish IP addresses. Additionally, it allowed deposits and withdrawals using the Swedish currency, SEK. These factors meet the legal criteria for “targeting” the Swedish market, regardless of where the operator is based or whether it physically operates from Sweden.

The regulator emphasized that simply offering content in Swedish or allowing transactions in SEK is sufficient to be considered as targeting Swedish users. Furthermore, Spelinspektionen determined that no technical or procedural safeguards were in place to restrict access by Swedish players, such as IP blocking or warnings during account registration.

These findings, combined with WinBet NV’s lack of a Swedish licence, led the authority to issue a ban under Chapter 18, Section 23 of the Swedish Gambling Act, which authorizes the regulator to prohibit unlawful gambling operations from being directed at the Swedish public.

Absence of response from WinBet NV

Spelinspektionen stated that WinBet NV was afforded an opportunity to respond to the investigation prior to the issuance of the formal ban. However, no reply was received, which is often interpreted as a non-cooperative stance by the regulator. The lack of engagement on the part of the operator reinforced the perception that it had no intention to comply with Swedish law or engage in the licensing process.

In regulatory terms, non-response is considered a serious failure, as licensees or even unlicensed operators must have the opportunity to clarify their position. Failing to take part in this process typically results in the assumption that the offending party either acknowledges the breach or chooses to disregard the authority’s jurisdiction, both of which can lead to enhanced enforcement actions.

Previous regulatory scrutiny by Dutch authorities

WinBet NV has faced regulatory attention on previous occasions. In early 2024, the Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), initiated action against the company due to its involvement with four specific online gambling platforms.

• Galaxyspins.com
• Winnercasino1.bet
• Superb1.bet
• Doctorspins.com

The KSA alleged that these sites were offering games of chance to Dutch consumers without the required local licence, echoing the legal principles applied in Sweden. Both Sweden and the Netherlands maintain a restrictive stance against unlicensed operators who attempt to serve domestic players from abroad.

KSA’s findings on those four sites appear to reinforce a pattern of behavior in which WinBet NV markets its services in regulated EU jurisdictions without complying with national licensing obligations.

Implications under Swedish gambling law

Swedish law provides clear guidance regarding what constitutes unlawful targeting of local players. Section 2 of Chapter 3 of the Swedish Gambling Act defines gambling aimed at the Swedish market as any form of gambling that:

• Uses the Swedish language on its website or mobile application
• Offers customer service in Swedish
• Enables transactions in SEK
• Markets directly to Swedish consumers through advertising or SEO

WinBet NV, by enabling Swedish content and Krona-based transactions, fell squarely within these criteria.

Additionally, the regulator has the authority to issue prohibition orders and even seek fines or payment blocking measures through cooperation with the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen). The move against WinBet NV is therefore a typical example of proactive regulatory enforcement in line with national legislation and the broader EU principle of national market autonomy in gambling regulation.

Swedish regulator concludes probe into local operators

In a parallel development, Spelinspektionen has concluded a separate compliance investigation into three licensed gambling operators:

• Svenska Spel Sport & Casino AB
• AB Trav och Galopp (ATG)
• Lotto Direct

The regulator had launched this investigation in early June 2025 to assess whether the above operators had violated their obligations under the Swedish Gambling Act, specifically regarding the duty to notify the regulator of any relevant changes to their application or registration status.

According to Spelinspektionen, the probe was launched to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance, particularly with respect to licensing conditions under Chapter 4 of the Act. These include the obligation to inform the regulator about ownership changes, significant alterations in gaming services, or changes in technical and financial arrangements.

However, the authority confirmed that no breaches were identified, and no further regulatory action will be taken in relation to these three operators.

Increased scrutiny of offshore operators

The enforcement action against WinBet NV also reflects a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny across the European Economic Area (EEA). Many regulators, including those in Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, have intensified efforts to enforce compliance through geo-targeting assessments, undercover testing, and automated language detection on foreign websites.

Authorities are especially watchful of operators licensed in so-called “permissive jurisdictions” such as Curaçao, Antigua, or even Greece (when not tied to domestic restrictions), who attempt to bypass local licensing requirements in more strictly regulated markets.

This case exemplifies the type of monitoring Swedish regulators use to distinguish between truly international operators and those that actively seek to exploit regulatory grey zones.

Curaçao licensing model under growing pressure

The fact that WinBet NV holds a licence from a Curaçao master licensee or another offshore licensing body does not provide legal grounds for offering services in Sweden. The Swedish system is closed and national, meaning that only Swedish licences are valid for access to Swedish consumers.

Regulators across Europe have long questioned the rigour and accountability of the Curaçao licensing system, citing lack of player protections, minimal due diligence requirements, and insufficient oversight. Reforms have been promised in Curaçao, but these are not yet implemented comprehensively enough to reassure EU member states.

The situation involving WinBet NV is yet another example where a non-EU licence does not shield an operator from domestic legal obligations under EU market fragmentation principles in gambling.

Future outlook: Legal and operational risks for non-compliant firms

Operators that continue to target European markets without adequate local licences face increasing enforcement risk, including:

• National access bans
• Financial blocking of payment processing
• International cooperation between regulators
• Public blacklisting and reputational damage
• Potential criminal liability in severe cases

For players, this also raises concerns regarding dispute resolution and consumer protection, since players who gamble with non-licensed operators have no recourse under national gambling dispute resolution bodies or guarantee systems.

Operators are thus strongly advised to cease targeting markets in which they are not licensed and to proactively cooperate with regulators to prevent sanctions or further reputational harm.

Conclusion

The case of WinBet NV and its prohibition from targeting Swedish players underscores the growing determination of national regulators like Spelinspektionen to enforce strict compliance within their gambling markets. Sweden’s gambling framework leaves little room for ambiguity—operators must hold a valid local licence to legally provide services to Swedish residents, and any attempt to bypass these rules through offshore licensing or indirect targeting is met with firm regulatory action.

The regulator’s investigation into Superb.bet demonstrated that even subtle indicators—such as the automatic use of Swedish language or acceptance of local currency—can be deemed sufficient to constitute unlawful targeting. WinBet NV’s failure to respond to the regulator's inquiries only further reinforced the seriousness of the violation and justified the enforcement action.

At the same time, Spelinspektionen's decision to close its investigation into local licensees such as Svenska Spel and ATG, after finding no wrongdoing, reflects its commitment to balanced and evidence-based oversight.

As the European regulatory environment becomes increasingly coordinated and vigilant, the risks for non-compliant operators—whether reputational, financial, or legal—continue to grow. It is clear that the era of loosely regulated offshore gambling targeting EU consumers is quickly drawing to a close. Companies that wish to operate in such jurisdictions must align themselves with national legal standards or risk exclusion from lucrative, yet highly regulated, markets like Sweden.

FAQs

What is Spelinspektionen?
Spelinspektionen is the Swedish Gambling Authority responsible for licensing and supervising gambling and betting operations in Sweden.

Why was WinBet NV banned in Sweden?
WinBet NV was banned for offering gambling services in Swedish and accepting SEK transactions without holding a Swedish licence.

Does WinBet NV hold any valid gambling licence?
Yes, it holds a foreign licence, reportedly from Greece or Curaçao, but it is not authorized to operate in Sweden.

What is the legal threshold for targeting Swedish players?
Offering services in Swedish or allowing payments in SEK is considered targeting under the Swedish Gambling Act.

Did WinBet respond to the investigation?
No, Spelinspektionen stated that WinBet NV did not reply to its inquiries during the regulatory process.

What happens when a company violates Swedish gambling law?
They may be banned, blacklisted, and subject to further legal enforcement, including payment blocking or fines.

What was the outcome of the probe into Svenska Spel and ATG?
The regulator found no violations, and the investigation was closed without further action.

Can foreign licences be used to operate in Sweden?
No, only licences issued by Spelinspektionen are valid for offering gambling to Swedish residents.

What risks do players face with unlicensed operators?
Players have no legal protections or access to national dispute resolution mechanisms when using unlicensed sites.

Are other regulators in Europe taking similar actions?
Yes, regulators across the EU, including in the Netherlands and Germany, are actively blocking and sanctioning unlicensed operators.