Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gaming regulator, has reportedly levied fines against online casino operators Genesis Global Limited and AG Communications Limited for breaking its rules on the provision of reoccurring bonuses.

Steep sanctions:

According to an official report, Genesis Global has been hit with a financial penalty worth SEK1.7 million ($179,510) while AG Communications Limited, which is the local subsidiary of Maltese operator, Aspire Global, has been ordered to hand over some SEK500,000 ($52,794).

Reoccurring infringements:

iGamingBusiness.com reported that online casino operators licensed to provide their services to players in Sweden are forbidden from offering reoccurring bonuses as aficionados are only able to take advantage of a single non-transferable bonus. Although the Spelinspektionen purportedly acknowledged that neither of the offending iGaming operators had paid out on one of these benefits, they were adjudged to have broken its rules simply by having advertised such financial incentives.

Reportedly read a statement from Spelinspektionen…

“Gaming bonuses already pose a high risk from a social responsibility perspective, since many individuals with gambling problems have been attracted to them. The main purpose of the new gambling regulation, which came into force on January 1, 2019, is to strengthen consumer protection and reduce the negative effects of gambling. The limitation on bonuses is included in the law to reduce social and economic harms and to tackle problem gambling.”

Double trouble:

This is not the first time that Genesis and AG Communications have fallen foul of the Swedish iGaming regulator’s rules. The former was purportedly hit with a SEK4 million ($422,488) penalty in March while the latter was ordered to pay a SEK3 million ($316,866) sanction the very next month with both instances relating to their failures to have properly integrated the authority’s Spelpaus.se self-exclusion service.

Robust reprimands:

These fines are nowhere near the largest to have been levied by the Spelinspektionen for breaking its rules on bonuses. Similar infractions purportedly led the regulator to hit Betway Limited hit with a SEK5 million ($528,104) sanction last month while Mandalorian Technologies Limited was simultaneously ordered to pay an even steeper penalty of SEK9 million ($950,588).