ANOTHER SWEDISH ONLINE GAMBLING PROBE

14 September 2007

Gaming Board now demands information from Redbet


The Lotteriinspektionen, Sweden's Gaming Board appears to be continuing its aggressive initiative against online gambling companies, presumably in a bid to protect the country's monopolistic bans on all but government owned gambling operations that have placed it squarely in the sights of the European Commission.

Readers will recall previous InfoPowa reports on the Board's demand two months ago for employee information from the 24hPoker firm, and the apparently parallel activities of the Swedish tax authorities to crack down on perceived tax evasion. Now Redbet Limited is the subject of a similar demand.

The power to demand usually private information from online gambling companies is based on Swedish laws which permit the Gaming Board to require information if it is of the opinion that a commercial entity is carrying on an illegal gambling business in the country. Such information may be required to enable the Board to establish whether significant business for the company is being conducted without authority on Swedish soil.

Fines may be imposed for companies refusing to comply with such a request, and stiff penalties can be invoked if the Board decides that a company is providing illegal gambling services, including the promotion of gambling sites to Swedish clients.

It is understood that the Swedish authorities are especially interested in not only the activities and assets of companies but also the number of employees a company may have in-country. Should prosecutions eventuate, these will be seminal proceedings, as there has thus far been no judicial test of the Board's decisions.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa