SGA Bans Hitz Gaming for Illegal Gambling Activities in Sweden
Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA), has announced it has issued a ban to Hitz Gaming OÜ for offering gambling services to customers in Sweden without the required licenses.
Spelinspektionen Issues Ban on Hitz Gaming in Sweden.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The SGA investigated several websites that it said were not licensed to provide gambling services to the public in the Swedish jurisdiction. These sites include wisho.com, winnerz.com, trickz.com and celebrino.com.
During the investigation, Spelinspektionen stated it was able to create player accounts from within the Swedish jurisdiction at these sites, which are not certified to operate in the region. The regulator also established that these websites are the brand sites operated by Hitz Gaming OÜ.
In its judgment, the SGA said it believed Hitz Gaming OÜ had specifically targeted Sweden and players in the country. It pointed to the link between Hitz Gaming OÜ and a Swedish affiliate called nilslegend.net who were used to promote the gaming websites.
Additionally, the Hitz Gaming OÜ branded sites used a payment provider known as BankID which the SGA highlighted is only available to customers in the Swedish jurisdiction.
The purpose of the regulation is that gambling should be channeled to offers from responsible, reliable and controllable actors. The regulation is based on everyone who acts on the Swedish gambling market must have a Swedish gambling license and that other actors without a license should be shut out.
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Hitz Gaming OÜ Provides Explanation
As part of the legislation process undertaken by Spelinspektionen, it gives Hitz Gaming OÜ a chance to offer an explanation of the breaches of gambling regulations it has been charged with.
The gaming operator outlined that it felt its payment system was designed for the gaming markets and not specifically for Sweden. Also, Hitz Gaming OÜ said it no longer had a contractual agreement with the Swedish affiliate highlighted in the judgment by the SGA.
The company no longer has contractual relations with the affiliates who have marketed the company’s games towards Sweden and has given instructions to their partners that no marketing for their websites may be directed towards Sweden. Hitz Gaming OÜ thus believes that their games cannot be considered to be provided in Sweden, because they do not meet the connection factors to be considered to target the Swedish market.
The SGA heard the explanation provided by the gaming operator, however, it decided its original breaches to the current legislation had not been addressed and kept its original ban in place.
The Swedish regulator continues with its proactive approach to enforcement and recently fined Kanon Gaming for breaches.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
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