Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has fined Betsson and Bethard due to being in violation of several gambling rules and regulations. Betsson was handed down an SEK20 million fine, which is equal to $2.1 million. Bethard was fined SEK400,000 which is equal to $43,412.
Betsson was fined and given a warning for allowing customers in Sweden to fund online accounts via unauthorized retail vouchers. The regulator also found that the operator had offered customers in the country illegal bonuses via MasterCard.
The online gambling operator was working with 7-Eleven and Pressbyran, convenience stores in the country, to offer vouchers for purchase. These vouchers could be used for online account funding via Betsson. The regulator said that the convenience stores acted as a gambling agent based on the Swedish Gambling Act which began in January of last year. The regulator had not authorized the stores to do so and Betsson was penalized for working with unauthorized agents.
The operator was also accused of providing benefits to players via a company MasterCard. A limited edition card was offered to players who chose to link their account with the provider. The card could be used deposit and special benefits were provided to players who used the option like tickets to events.
For Bethard, the company was fined much less. They were found to be taking bets on football games and the players who posted the bets were under the age of 18. In July of last year, the Bethard band was part of a group of operators who were penalized for offering wagering on the U19 league in Sweden. At that time, the company was fined an even larger amount.
The case went to court and the regulator was told to give Bethard a warning instead. They chose to give the warning and the smaller fine as punishment, which was just announced this week.
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