Mr Green’s historical SEK31.5m fine more than halved to SEK12m
Operator has penalty for AML and duty of care shortcomings reduced in Court of Appeal on turnover-based model for 2019 financial performance
Mr Green has seen its SEK31.5m fine handed down by the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) reduced to SEK12m by the Court of Appeal in Jönköping.
The reduction, which was originally confirmed in August 2021 over anti-money laundering (AML) and responsible gambling shortcomings, came after the operator previously lost an appeal in 2022.
The original fine comprised of a SEK30m penalty for duty of care breaches as the firm failed to make adequate contact with customers.
A further SEK1.5m fine was also handed out over a lack of “sufficient customer knowledge” in handling money-laundering concerns.
In May 2022, Mr Green lost its first appeal against the fine in the Administrative Court in Linköping, with judges siding with the regulator.
However, the SGA has confirmed the original SEK31.5m has been more than halved to SEK12m after the latest court hearing.
Evoke-owned Mr Green had requested the penalty be annulled, with the SGA retorting with a reduced fine to SEK12m based on Mr Green’s financial performance in 2019, when the alleged offences were said to have taken place.
Fines in Sweden can be set at SEK5,000 or 10% of a firm’s annual turnover. As detailed by the Court of Appeal in Jönköping, Mr Green noted 2019 turnover of SEK236.6m.
This would put the maximum fine level at SEK23.6m, with the SGA noting the SEK12m penalty was a “reasonable and proportionate intervention”.
The Court agreed with the SGA’s decision, citing the fact Mr Green also moved quickly to cease the violations.
The Mr Green case is the fourth historical penalty review to be published in Sweden this week after bet365, ComeOn Group and Kindred Group all received updates on previous fines.
Mr Green’s parent company evoke rebranded from 888 earlier this month with the operator looking to better position its stable of brands which also includes William Hill.
The firm is led by CEO Per Widerström, who has been in the post since October 2023. He has embarked on a value creation plan for the business, including brining in eight new senior leadership figures, the most recent of which being a new chief people officer in the shape of Anne Sewell.