The Swedish gaming watchdog, Spelinspektionen, has banned Satoshi Gaming Group immediately.
Following an inquiry that revealed the Curacao-based operator had provided online gambling through its Trustdice.win platform without a license, the ban was announced last Thursday. Investigators found that the website, which included Swedish-language marketing, was primarily aimed at Swedish consumers.
Spelinspektionen is therefore asking Satoshi to stop its operations right away.
“We believe that it is crucial that the decision be followed right away in order to protect consumers and ensure gaming safety,” Spelinspektionen stated in a statement. “Therefore, the decision will take effect immediately.”
Satoshi at the Wide Inquiry Center
Following regulatory investigation, Satoshi claimed to have barred Swedish consumers from using its website in response to an initial inquiry in February. A follow-up examination by Spelinspektionen, however, revealed that users could still access the website using a different IP address.
The operator promised to impose more limitations on Swedish players in light of these findings. This involved clearing the Trustdice.win website of all Swedish-language content. Satoshi did not specify when these adjustments will be made, though.
“Satoshi Gaming Group offers games in Sweden because its website, trustdice.win, contains policy documents, frequently asked questions, and other information in Swedish, along with terms and conditions for game participation,” the regulator said.
Additionally, the business uses affiliates to promote to Swedish consumers
However, a subsequent examination in April revealed that the website continued to operate in contravention of Sweden’s Gambling Act.
As of Thursday, Satoshi was still operating in Sweden despite Spelinspektionen’s orders. Regulators did not state what sanctions they would pursue in the event that Satoshi persisted in his noncompliance.
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Regulators Still Face Difficulties
Regulators are still fighting to combat unlawful gaming. According to a report published last week by Spelinspektionen, offshore operators are still freely reachable by Swedish players. According to existing legislation, authorities can only take action against unlicensed operators that specifically target customers using the “direction criterion.”
Regulators continue to focus on skin betting, in which participants use virtual currency for illicit gaming. In 2024, 41% of all visits to unauthorized websites came from this kind of betting, up from 41% the year before.
Regulators also noted that it is becoming more difficult to monitor illicit websites that are advertised in English.
“In general, consumer protection on these sites is much weaker than what applies within the Swedish licensed market,” they observed. For instance, among these sites, the Authority has not seen anything akin to Sweden’s duty of care.
The existence and magnitude of bonuses are also more than what is permitted in Sweden, it went on. VIP programs and cashback are also frequently provided.
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