Swedish Regulator Loses Appeal Against Zimpler: Unlicensed Sites Still Allowed to Operate
In 2023, Zimpler, a Swedish payment processing platform, was issued a warning by the Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, to cease offering its services to unlicensed gaming operators. The regulator threatened fines if the company did not comply. However, Zimpler contested the decision, leading to a court ruling in favor of the payment processor.
Spelinspektionen appealed the verdict, but the second court upheld the original ruling. The court clarified that gaming operators who do not hold a Swedish license are not considered illegal unless they specifically target Swedish players. A key point made by the court is that to be deemed as targeting Swedish players, the website must be available in Swedish. Providing the site in English does not qualify as targeting Sweden.
The court also highlighted that the Gambling Act does not provide clear definitions for what constitutes "targeting Sweden." Additionally, it criticized Spelinspektionen for insufficient preparation and concluded that there were no grounds to restrict Zimpler's services to offshore gaming sites.
Regarding Swedish-licensed online casinos, it's important to note that they now have a limit on the RTP (Return to Player) set at 90%, which significantly reduces profitability. We do not recommend Swedish players to engage with these casinos due to the unfavourable odds.
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As a Swedish player, this is disappointing. We’re already restricted by so many regulations, and now with the RTP limit at 90%, it just doesn’t feel worth it. I’ll stick to international sites where the odds are better.
Wow, I didn’t realize that the Swedish Gambling Act doesn’t define what targeting Sweden means. It’s a bit confusing for us players. On top of that, a 90% RTP is just too low – I'll be looking for casinos outside Sweden for now.
I was honestly hoping Spelinspektionen would win the appeal, but I guess the courts have made their decision. I don't understand how casinos can stay competitive with such a low RTP. Swedish players deserve better chances to win!
I've been following this situation with Zimpler, and it's good to see that the court sided with them. It feels like the Swedish regulator is a bit out of touch. And with the RTP limit at 90%, it makes no sense to play on Swedish-licensed casinos right now. There are better options out there.