Sweden’s gambling regulator (Spelinspektionen) has issued a sharp warning to SkillOnNet after uncovering issues in its approach to responsible gaming initiatives. Marking another escalation in the country’s push to tighten consumer-protection within the industry. The problem arose after regulators found missing responsible gambling tools and exclusion programs for users who play without logging in to their account on Prime Casino’s website, a lapse that the regulator said failed to meet the country’s legal requirements for online platforms.
Regulator flags missing tools on Prime Casino
During a routine review, Spelinspektionen found that several responsible gaming links and sections were not visible to visitors who had not logged in. These included links for setting deposit limits, self-assessing gambling behavior, establishing session-time restrictions and initiating self-exclusion for at-risk players. Under Swedish gambling law, all of these tools must be clearly displayed to every visitor, not only active account holders.
Regulators added that the absence of these sections is proof of negligence in the operator’s legal obligations to their players. While the issue did not involve misconduct, such as; targeting minors or breaching any fair-play rules, officials stressed that visibility of these tools is central to Sweden’s licensing framework. The missing icons, they said, limited the ability of players to understand or access safeguards before engaging with the site’s content.
SkillOnNet responds quickly but faces scrutiny
A spokesperson for SkillOnNet told the regulator the icons had always been available for logged-in players and that the absence in the public view stemmed from a technical issue rather than a deliberate choice. The company said it had already noted the problem internally and corrected it shortly after the authority issued its notice.
Spelinspektionen acknowledged the swift fix, noting that the operator generally meets its regulatory duties. However, the agency made it clear that compliance with responsible gambling laws cannot depend on users logging in. As per Swedish law, responsible gambling information must be available at all times and across all versions of the site, especially as Sweden continues to monitor the ever-growing market.
A regulator intensifying its oversight
The notice to SkillOnNet comes during a period of heightened regulation in the country as it clamps down on unregulated operators. In recent months, Spelinspektionen has banned multiple offshore companies for operating without a license, including firms that used affiliate marketing, social-media influencers and targeted advertising to reach Swedish players. Officials said these actions are part of a broader effort to ensure that gambling takes place only with licensed operators who comply with consumer-protection rules.
The crackdown follows Sweden’s latest channelisation report, which revealed that approximately 15% of gambling activity still occurs outside the licensed market. Online casinos accounted for the weakest channelisation levels, prompting the government to launch further inquiries into how they can further curb unlicensed operators, who continue to flood the market. Industry experts have questioned whether the inquiry is broad enough, but regulators insist that enforcement pressure will remain high as they continue to root out negligent operators.
A broader push for safer gambling standards
Sweden’s approach mirrors a trend across Europe, where regulators are demanding clearer messaging, stronger monitoring and earlier detection of risky behavior. Spelinspektionen has repeatedly emphasised that operators must present responsible-gaming information consistently and openly, regardless of device, platform or login status. Even minor gaps, the authority said, undermine the safeguards that the system is built to deliver for players.
For SkillOnNet, the notice is a reminder that compliance in Sweden requires constant vigilance. For the wider market, it signals that the country’s regulator will continue to crack down on sites that do not follow good consumer practices as it works to protect players and push illegal operators out of the country.
References
- Swedish Gambling Act (2018:1138) https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/spellag-20181138_sfs-2018-1138
- Spelinspektionen – Official Decisions on Licensed Operators https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/decisions/
- Spelinspektionen – Responsible Gambling Requirements https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/responsible-gambling/
- Spelinspektionen – Prohibition Notices Against Unlicensed Operators https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/decisions/prohibition-of-illegal-gambling/
- Spelinspektionen – Gambling Market Statistics & Channelization Data https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/press-and-communication/statistics/
