Swedish court denies host of operators further appeals against historic fines
Supreme Administrative Court will not hear further challenges from Mr Green, ComeOn Group and Spooniker, with companies to pay penalties at already confirmed reduced rate
The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) has reported Mr Green, ComeOn Group and Kindred-owned Spooniker will not be granted further appeals against historic fines.
Mr Green, which is owned by evoke, will have to pay its SEK12m fine, Spooniker will stump up SEK30m and various ComeOn Group brands will pay between SEK8m and SEK24m.
The regulator said the Supreme Administrative Court had elected not to hear further appeals after the operators had already seen original penalties reduced on initial appeals.
The penalties related to a combination of AML, duty of care and bonus shortcomings and relate to historical findings pre-2020.
Mr Green’s penalty was originally set at SEK31.5m over AML and duty of care concerns, but was reduced following appeal.
Spooniker’s SEK100m fine, relating to player bonuses, was cut to SEK50m in 2021 and then SEK30m in May of this year.
ComeOn Group’s Snabbare brand was originally fined SEK65m in 2021 although this has fallen to SEK24m while Hajper will pay SEK14m, having fallen from SEK50m.
The flagship ComeOn! brand has seen its fine decrease from SEK35m to SEK13m and Casinostugan is to pay SEK8m from a previous sanction of SEK25m.
While the operators’ various appeals over the past three years have been successful to some degree, any further reductions in the fines now appears unlikely.
Elsewhere, the SGA has banned Cosmogames NV from operating in the market after being live without a licence.