LeoVegas Unit Roar Vegas Wins Appeal Against SEK 8M Fine

LeoVegas Subsidiary Roar Vegas Wins Appeal Against SEK 8 Million Fine – Swedish Court Cites Insufficient Evidence of Duty of Care Breach

Key Takeaways

• The Administrative Court in Linkoping cancelled a SEK 8 million fine issued to Roar Vegas, a LeoVegas-owned operator.
• Sweden gambling regulator Spelinspektionen had alleged breaches of duty of care rules involving high-risk players.
• The court ruled that the regulator did not present clear and unambiguous proof required for a financial sanction.
• The case concerned 12 high-loss customer accounts reviewed for the period 1 January to 31 March 2024.
• The court acknowledged that some interventions could have occurred earlier but found this insufficient to justify a penalty.

Administrative Court Cancels SEK 8 Million Fine

The Administrative Court in Linkoping has overturned a SEK 8 million administrative fine previously imposed on Roar Vegas, an operator owned by the LeoVegas group. The fine, originally issued by Spelinspektionen on 25 March 2025, followed a regulatory review of customer activity during the first quarter of 2024.

In its ruling dated 12 June under case number 3061-25, the court concluded that the regulator had not demonstrated a clear breach of the duty of care obligations set out in the Swedish Gambling Act. According to the court, the evidence presented did not meet the standard of being clear and unambiguous, which is required to impose a financial sanction.

For operators active in Sweden, the ruling clarifies how courts may assess the evidentiary threshold in enforcement actions related to safer gambling obligations.

Regulator Focused on High-Loss and Younger Players

Spelinspektionen based its enforcement decision on a review of 12 customer accounts identified as high-loss cases between 1 January and 31 March 2024. The regulator selected the highest-loss players across two age groups: 18 to 24 and 25 and older.

Three of those accounts formed the core of the regulator’s concerns. These players had monthly deposit limits ranging from SEK 100,000 to SEK 300,000. Spelinspektionen also cited rapid deposits, quick losses following deposits, and extended playing sessions as indicators of potentially harmful gambling behavior.

The regulator concluded that Roar Vegas had failed to intervene sufficiently or in a timely manner. On that basis, it issued both a formal reprimand and the SEK 8 million fine, equivalent to approximately $852,867.

Operator Cited Automated Alerts and Manual Reviews

In its defense, Roar Vegas did not dispute that the accounts in question showed risk indicators. However, the company argued that it had taken multiple steps to mitigate potential harm.

According to the court record, the operator’s safer gambling system included automated alerts, manual account reviews, deposit limits, and account suspensions. Roar Vegas also presented documentation such as action plans, system updates, and follow-up notes to demonstrate ongoing monitoring and intervention.

The company further argued that certain behavioral indicators, such as long login sessions or rapid losses after deposits, do not automatically prove gambling harm. It noted that similar patterns can occur in sports betting. Roar Vegas also referred to legal uncertainty prior to regulatory changes that took effect on 1 June 2024, particularly concerning the processing of personal health and financial data in responsible gambling checks.

The court accepted parts of this reasoning. It stated that license holders must balance privacy considerations, voluntary player tools, and stronger restrictive measures when assessing risk.

Court Applies Reasonable Time Standard

A central issue in the case was the timing and adequacy of interventions. Spelinspektionen argued that Roar Vegas acted too late and that its measures were insufficient.

The court agreed that certain interventions could have been implemented earlier. However, it emphasized that the law does not set fixed response times for every scenario. Instead, it applied what it described as a reasonable time standard, taking into account that online gambling operates continuously.

The ruling noted that some automated alerts were triggered quickly, in some cases as early as the day after initial deposits. The court concluded that while earlier action might have been possible in specific instances, the delays identified by the regulator did not reach the threshold required to justify a financial penalty.

Implications for Swedish Duty of Care Enforcement

Sweden has strengthened enforcement of safer gambling requirements in recent years. Duty of care provisions require operators to act when player behavior indicates elevated risk, but the legislation leaves room for judgment in determining when and how to intervene.

In this case, the court’s decision underscores that regulators must present detailed and conclusive evidence when alleging a breach. The documentation provided by Roar Vegas, including records of alerts and follow-up measures, played a role in undermining the regulator’s claim that a clear violation had occurred.

For licensed operators in Sweden, the ruling provides judicial guidance on how courts may evaluate internal control systems, response times, and documentation in future enforcement proceedings.

Our Assessment

The Administrative Court in Linkoping cancelled the SEK 8 million fine against Roar Vegas after finding that Spelinspektionen did not prove a clear breach of duty of care obligations. The court acknowledged areas where earlier intervention might have been possible but determined that the evidence did not justify a financial sanction. The ruling clarifies the evidentiary standard required in Swedish enforcement actions related to safer gambling and highlights the importance of documented internal procedures when regulatory decisions are challenged.