Swedish regulator penalises Quickspin, Kalamba, and EGT Digital over licensing breaches

• Quickspin receives largest penalty of SEK650,000 for supplying games to unlicensed websites through third-party partners
• Kalamba Games and EGT Digital also sanctioned with fines of SEK60,000 and SEK5,000 respectively for licensing violations
• Enforcement action forms part of broader crackdown on unlicensed gambling market targeting Swedish consumers

The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has issued warnings and penalty fees totalling over SEK715,000 to three gaming software suppliers for breaching licensing requirements by providing content to unlicensed operators targeting Swedish consumers.

Quickspin AB, the Swedish studio owned by Playtech, received the heaviest sanction with a SEK650,000 (€58,800) fine and formal warning. The regulator discovered that Quickspin’s games had been made available on unlicensed websites through third-party content partners, despite the company implementing geo-blocking measures and removing the games once notified.

The penalty was calculated based on Quickspin’s Swedish turnover of SEK10.9 million in 2024, which set the legal maximum fine at approximately SEK1.1 million under current regulations. Spelinspektionen determined the breach was “serious” whilst noting that suppliers remain responsible for preventing their software from reaching the black market.

Kalamba Games received a SEK60,000 (€5,430) penalty after its games appeared on restricted websites. The company argued that some distribution occurred via partners outside its direct control, but the regulator maintained that licensees are ultimately responsible for ensuring their content does not reach banned operators.

EGT Digital Gaming received the minimum penalty of SEK5,000 (€452) after its games were traced to prohibited sites via an international distribution partner. The company claimed some disputed titles stemmed from third parties using older brand elements rather than direct supply arrangements.

By contrast, Playson was reviewed during the same enforcement sweep but cleared of any wrongdoing, with Spelinspektionen closing the case without further action.

The enforcement wave follows significant precedent set earlier this year involving Hacksaw Studios. The Swedish Administrative Court dramatically reduced Hacksaw’s original SEK2.6 million fine to just SEK20,000 in April 2025, ruling the penalty disproportionate given the company’s limited Swedish turnover whilst recognising geo-blocking efforts as mitigating factors.

Spelinspektionen emphasised these cases form part of its broader strategy to combat unlicensed gambling operators targeting Swedish consumers. Since 2023, software suppliers have been required to hold licences and are prohibited from providing games to any operator targeting the Swedish market without proper authorisation.

The regulator maintains that violations can result in fines of up to 10% of annual turnover, or in severe cases, licence revocation. Current regulations hold that geoblocking alone is insufficient to meet licensing requirements, with suppliers expected to take additional measures preventing content from reaching unauthorised operators.

Sweden continues working to improve channelisation rates, currently achieving approximately 85% of gambling activity through licensed operators against the government’s 90% target. The country is reviewing its Gambling Act with findings expected by September 2025, aiming to close regulatory gaps allowing unlicensed operators to target Swedish consumers.

Legal experts have questioned the robustness of the supplier licensing system, with some warning it could be circumvented without additional enforcement measures. The Swedish treasury is simultaneously targeting unlicensed operators whilst strengthening consumer protection frameworks.

These penalties demonstrate Spelinspektionen’s commitment to holding licensed suppliers accountable for their content distribution, regardless of third-party arrangements or technical mitigation measures. The approach signals continued aggressive enforcement as Sweden works to strengthen its regulated gambling market against offshore competition.