Sweden Fines LeoVegas and LuckyCasino $3.4M for Duty of Care Violations

March 26, 2025 – Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has issued significant fines totaling approximately $3.4 million to two gambling operators for failing to meet their duty of care obligations to protect customers from gambling harm.

Key Takeaways

• Spelinspektionen fined two operators a combined $3.4 million for duty of care violations
• LeoVegas received a warning and $801,000 fine for delayed interventions with high-risk players
• LuckyCasino faced a $2.7 million penalty for more severe violations including excessive deposit limits
• Glitnor Services (LuckyCasino) plans to appeal the decision, calling it “unjust”
• The penalties highlight Sweden’s strict approach to gambling regulation and player protection

LeoVegas Penalized for Delayed Interventions

Roar Vegas Ltd, operating the popular LeoVegas brand, received a warning and a SEK 8 million ($801,000) fine after the regulator examined 12 customers and found the company failed to adequately help three high-risk players reduce their gambling in a timely manner.

While Spelinspektionen acknowledged that Roar Vegas did eventually implement effective measures to protect these vulnerable customers, the regulator determined these interventions came too late. The company’s responsible gambling team had identified concerning patterns but didn’t take sufficient action quickly enough to prevent potential harm.

“Timely intervention is crucial when players show signs of problematic gambling behavior,” said Anders Sims, Head of Communications at Spelinspektionen. “While we recognize that LeoVegas did eventually act, their duty of care obligations require more prompt responses to protect vulnerable players.”

LuckyCasino Faces Larger Fine for Severe Violations

Glitnor Services Limited, which operates LuckyCasino, faced a much larger penalty of SEK 28 million ($2.7 million) for what the regulator described as more severe and widespread violations. Spelinspektionen’s investigation found that 10 out of 12 examined customers did not receive appropriate gambling harm interventions.

Specific violations included allowing customers to set deposit limits as high as SEK 2.2 million (about $220,000) per month, which the regulator deemed excessive and incompatible with consumer protection requirements. In one particularly concerning case, a player was permitted to place approximately 3,200 bets in just five and a half hours without any intervention.

Another customer lost 24% of their stated annual income in only three days, without the operator implementing appropriate safeguards or contact to verify the player’s financial situation.

Glitnor Contests the Ruling

Glitnor Services has strongly contested the ruling, calling it “unjust” and based on “vague factology and regulatory rules.” The company has announced plans to appeal the decision.

In their statement, Glitnor claimed that the violations occurred before 2023 and that they have since implemented significant improvements to their responsible gambling procedures. The company also argued that the size of the fine is disproportionate to the nature of the violations.

“We take our responsibility to protect players extremely seriously and have invested heavily in our responsible gambling tools and procedures,” said a Glitnor spokesperson. “We believe this decision does not fairly represent our current operations and commitment to player safety.”

Sweden’s Strict Regulatory Approach

These penalties highlight Sweden’s increasingly strict approach to gambling regulation since the market was re-regulated in 2019. Spelinspektionen has been particularly focused on enforcing duty of care obligations, which require operators to actively monitor for signs of problematic gambling and take appropriate measures to protect vulnerable players.

The regulator has reported concerning increases in gambling among minors and young adults, especially males, driving a more aggressive enforcement approach. Recent studies conducted by the Swedish Public Health Agency have shown a 15% increase in problem gambling indicators among men aged 18-24 over the past two years.

“Sweden has positioned itself as one of Europe’s strictest gambling regulators when it comes to consumer protection,” noted Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling. “These fines send a clear message that the regulator expects operators to take a proactive approach to preventing gambling harm, not just reacting after problems have developed.”

Industry-Wide Implications

The substantial penalties are likely to have ripple effects throughout Sweden’s licensed gambling market, which includes approximately 100 operators. Industry analysts suggest companies will likely review and strengthen their responsible gambling procedures to avoid similar sanctions.

“These fines aren’t just about punishing individual operators—they’re about setting standards for the entire industry,” explained Maria Wennerholm, gambling regulation expert at Stockholm University. “We’re already seeing operators investing more in AI-driven early detection systems and lowering default deposit limits in response to these regulatory actions.”

Other European jurisdictions considering similar duty of care requirements are watching closely the Swedish regulator’s approach, including the UK, which is currently reviewing its gambling legislation with a focus on enhanced player protections.

Sources

1. Gambling News: Sweden Fines Two Operators
2. 5Star Media: LeoVegas Fined SEK8 Million
3. EGR Global: SGA Hits LuckyCasino and LeoVegas
4. iGaming Express: Swedish Authority Fines Glitnor