Key Points
- Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling authority, has ordered Novatech to cease all operations in the country following findings of unlicensed gambling activities
- Swedish IP addresses triggered automatic assignment of Swedish country codes during registration on Novatech platforms
- Marketing materials in Swedish and local content creators actively promoted the operator’s services to Swedish audiences
- Shortly before, Dutch authorities imposed a historic €24.9 million penalty on Novatech for illegally servicing Netherlands-based players
- Without regulatory caps limiting fines to 10% of worldwide revenue, the Dutch penalty would have exceeded €100 million
Swedish authorities have directed Novatech to cease all gambling activities targeting residents in the country. The directive follows a comprehensive investigation revealing the operator was actively pursuing Swedish customers despite lacking necessary authorization.
Spelinspektionen, the nation’s gambling oversight body, issued the prohibition after conducting inspections from February 23 through 25, 2026.
Regulators scrutinized multiple domains associated with Novatech’s operations. The investigation covered qbet.com, mangacasino.com, slotexpress.com, 55bet.com, and 30bet.com.
Investigators discovered that the registration systems automatically populated Sweden’s country code when users accessed the platforms through Swedish IP addresses. According to regulators, this technical setup demonstrated clear intent to accommodate Swedish players rather than restrict their access.
Officials additionally identified Swedish-language promotional materials and local video content creators actively marketing these platforms. This evidence reinforced suspicions that Novatech deliberately targeted the Swedish market.
Regulatory personnel conducted an undercover registration attempt on one platform. Although the full transaction wasn’t finalized, authorities verified that Swedish users encountered no barriers when creating accounts or progressing through registration procedures.
Swedish Authorities Emphasize Consumer Safety Issues
Swedish gambling legislation mandates that all operators serving domestic customers obtain proper authorization. License holders must comply with comprehensive regulations governing responsible gaming practices, age confirmation procedures, and consumer protection measures.
Regulators warned that consumers accessing unauthorized platforms face potential exposure to inadequate safety measures. Sweden liberalized its gambling sector to licensed private enterprises in 2019 and has consistently worked to curtail unauthorized offshore operators from accessing domestic consumers.
While authorized operators dominate Sweden’s sports wagering sector, unauthorized platforms continue operating within the online casino space.
Historic Netherlands Penalty Intensifies Regulatory Scrutiny
The Swedish prohibition arrived mere days following Novatech receiving an unprecedented €24.9 million sanction from Netherlands gambling authorities, the Kansspelautoriteit.
Dutch investigators confirmed they successfully registered profiles, transferred funds, and participated in gambling activities across various Novatech-operated domains without encountering restrictions. Regulators also identified deficiencies in the operator’s age verification mechanisms.
Dutch officials noted cryptocurrency payment options were available across the platforms.
The financial penalty could have reached considerably higher amounts. Dutch authorities indicated the sanction would have surpassed €100 million absent statutory restrictions capping penalties at 10% of an operator’s worldwide revenue.
The consecutive enforcement actions from both European nations occurred within one week. Both regulatory bodies determined that Novatech’s platforms lacked fundamental safeguards preventing domestic users from accessing services.
European gambling authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against offshore operators marketing to domestic consumers without proper authorization. Regulators argue these operators compromise consumer protections and create inequitable competitive conditions for properly licensed businesses.
Sweden’s investigation verified the absence of technical restrictions preventing Swedish residents from utilizing the platforms. Dutch regulators reached parallel conclusions regarding accessibility from Netherlands-based connections.
The Kansspelautoriteit’s €24.9 million sanction represents the largest financial penalty the Dutch regulatory authority has imposed to date.
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