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Hacksaw Gaming and Panda Bluemoon Fined by Swedish Authorities

Hacksaw Gaming and Panda Bluemoon Fined by Swedish Authorities
The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has issued fines and official warnings to Hacksaw Gaming and Panda Bluemoon. These companies have been penalized for providing online gambling content to unlicensed websites. Hacksaw Gaming has been fined SEK2.6 million (approximately £193,000/€226,000/$246,000), while Panda Bluemoon is required to pay SEK700,000.
In January, Spelinspektionen discovered that Hacksaw Gaming was supplying content to two unlicensed gambling sites. This was in spite of the regulator's reminder in October 2023, highlighting providers' responsibilities.
Hacksaw Gaming responded by stating they have measures in place to block access to their games in Sweden. They use geo-blocking to ensure that users attempting to play their games from prohibited sites receive a message indicating that the game cannot be played in Sweden. Hacksaw argued that developers shouldn't be held accountable if their games are accessible in regions where the operator isn't licensed. They emphasized that they do not intentionally target the Swedish market without the proper license and that the actual operators offering their games should be responsible.
However, Spelinspektionen disagreed with Hacksaw's defense. The regulator stated that since the games were still accessible in Sweden, Hacksaw's measures were "inadequate." Spelinspektionen emphasized that it is the licensee's responsibility to ensure their games are not available to unlicensed players, regardless of any agreements with other parties.
Panda Bluemoon's Case
Similar charges were brought against Panda Bluemoon. The company was also found providing games to two unlicensed sites. Like Hacksaw, Panda Bluemoon argued that they had measures in place to block access, and claimed the operators were offering their games without permission. They also argued that a warning or penalty would be "disproportionate."
Spelinspektionen, however, found Panda Bluemoon's measures to be insufficient. The regulator stressed that it is the developers' responsibility to control where their games are available. Despite Panda Bluemoon's defense, the regulator decided that a fine of SEK700,000 and an official warning were appropriate.
Zimpler's Case
In related news, the Administrative Court has annulled a Spelinspektionen injunction against Zimpler, a payment service. In July 2023, Spelinspektionen warned Zimpler it could face a fine of up to SEK25 million if it did not cease working with offshore brands. The regulator took issue with Zimpler using BankID for transactions with unlicensed sites. BankID is an e-identification service used exclusively by Swedish customers.
Zimpler argued that they had already begun ending business relationships with these operators before the regulator's warning and decided to appeal the injunction. The court sided with Zimpler, revoking the regulator’s decision, but the judgment may still be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Jönköping.
The cases of Hacksaw Gaming and Panda Bluemoon highlight the stringent measures imposed by Swedish authorities to regulate online gambling. The fines and warnings serve as a reminder of the responsibilities of gambling content providers. Meanwhile, the Zimpler case demonstrates that regulatory actions can be contested and overturned if found to lack sufficient grounds. As the industry continues to evolve, compliance with local regulations remains crucial for all stakeholders involved in online gambling.

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