Swedish Court reduces fines for Bet365 subsidiaries
The Swedish Administrative Court has lowered fines imposed on two bet365 subsidiaries in 2023.
Hillside Sports and Hillside Gaming were fined £4.9 million and £1.05 million, respectively, by Sweden’s gambling watchdog Spelinspektionen for their violations in responsible gaming, which included failing to provide players with a duty of care. After Bet365 filed appeals in both cases, the fines were lowered; Hillside Sports now owes £3 million, and Hillside Gaming is still to pay £301,294.
The regulator said in its initial ruling:
“Bet365’s plans lacked a description of what measures should be taken in the event of excessive gambling for young players and for those who had previously been suspended.”
One customer’s actions that were brought to light by the Hillside Gaming fine included having no deposit limitations and being permitted to make 44 deposits and 36 withdrawals between October 17, 2021, and November 27, 2021, for a total loss of SEK287,623.
Spelinspektionen was overruled in their request for the Administrative Court to lower Hillside Sports’ penalties to £3.9 million. The Administrative Court declared that, in light of the “violations in question, Hillside’s financial circumstances,” and the “mitigating and aggravating factors” of the case, the revised punishment is “proportionate and fair.” The court responded in the same way, partially granting Spelinspektionen’s request to lower the amount imposed on Hillside Gaming to £376,618.