Report: Majority of Swedish Gamblers Can’t Differentiate Legal, Illegal Sites
Spelinspektionen, the Swedish regulator, has released a report that finds a majority of gamblers do not know which products are licensed versus unlicensed in the market.
Of those questioned in the survey by Spelinspektionen, 47 percent said they also didn’t know if there was an advantage in playing on licensed sites.
Swedish horseracing operator ATG said in a Q4 report on illegal gambling that online channelization in Sweden was between 69 percent and 82 percent across the entire market.
Ireland’s GRAI calls for industry input on Social Impact Fund
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has issued a call for input from stakeholders and individuals impacted by gambling harms to help shape its Social Impact Fund.
The regulator is looking to hear from people who have lived experience of gambling harm or addiction. GRAI also wants to engage with service providers and non-governmental organizations that work with vulnerable groups.
The call for input from impacted organizations and individuals opened on April 14 and will close May 15.
Ireland’s nascent Social Impact Fund was established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which Ireland’s Parliament approved in October.
Starscream Latest to Face Regulatory Action in the Netherlands
The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has ordered that Starscream stop all operations in the market.
KSA said that Starscream was operating in the country without the correct license and had been illegally targeting Dutch players.
If Startscream does not cease its operations in the Netherlands, it risks facing a penalty payment of up to €840,000 ($956,234).
“The Netherlands has a regulated gambling market to better protect players,” KSA said. “We are therefore taking tough action against illegal offers. With a penalty payment, illegal offers are often quickly stopped. Providers may also be fined for the period during which the illegal offer was available.”
KSA Issues Penalty to Unlicensed Esports Operator Gamusoft
The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a weekly penalty payment order against the videogame-focused gambling operator Gamusoft.
KSA said the company’s csgofast.com website, which allows users to wager on esports title Counter Strike: Global Offensive, was operating illegally in the market.
As such, KSA ordered Gamusoft to immediately cease operations in the country. If it does not comply, Gamusoft will face a penalty payment of €280,000 ($322,840) a week, up to a maximum of €840,000.
KSA said the operator’s site had been running in the Netherlands illegally, as Gamusoft does not hold a local gambling license and had taken no measure to prevent Dutch users from creating accounts.
