Swedish court rejects appeals against bonus ban penalties

The Swedish Administrative Court has rejected appeals from NGG Nordic and SkillOnNet.

Sweden.- The Swedish Administrative Court has rejected two legal appeals against penalties issues for violations of the country’s regulations on gaming bonuses. NGG Nordic and SkillOnNet had appealed over penalties issued by the national gaming regulator Spelinspektionen.

Spelinspektionen issued both operators with fines of SEK 14m (€1.3m) for breaching Sweden’s bonus ban. It said NGG Nordic had offered “surprises every week, raffle cash prizes, travel and free spins, bonuses, rewards and free games for loyal players”, which constituted “financial incentives” under the definition of bonuses in Sweden’s Gaming Act for four months after the law came into force.

SkillOnNet offered daily bonuses, monthly rewards, free spins, cashback and VIP packages

In the case of NGG Nordic, the regulator noted that as well as illicit bonus offers, the operator had effectively run lotteries not covered by the operator’s licence.

NGG Nordic said it would now only offer its customers a welcome bonus the first time they place a bet. SkillOnNet, which began providing online slots, casino and jackpot games from 2019, removed its bonuses in April 2019 after the regulator’s investigation. 

Last week, Spelinspektionen announced that it will not object to the reimposition of temporary online casino deposit limits in Sweden at a lower level than before. Operators, including Kindred, have severely criticised the government’s proposal, which would apply a monthly deposit limit of SEK4,000 (€388) as of next month.