TLDR
- Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling authority, has commanded Novatech to cease all operations after discovering unlicensed gambling activities
- Investigation revealed Novatech platforms automatically applied Swedish country codes to registrations from Swedish IP addresses
- Marketing efforts included Swedish-language content creators and websites promoting Novatech’s gambling platforms
- The Netherlands previously imposed a historic €24.9 million penalty on Novatech for unauthorized player targeting
- Dutch authorities indicated the fine would have exceeded €100 million without the 10% global turnover limitation
Novatech has been ordered to cease all gambling operations targeting Swedish residents immediately. The directive came after regulatory investigators determined the company was soliciting Swedish players without proper licensing.
Spelinspektionen, the nation’s gambling authority, issued the order following an inspection conducted from February 23 to 25, 2026.
Authorities scrutinized multiple domains associated with Novatech, including qbet.com, mangacasino.com, slotexpress.com, 55bet.com, and 30bet.com.
Investigators discovered that the registration systems automatically populated Sweden’s country code for users accessing the sites from Swedish IP addresses. According to the regulator, this functionality demonstrated the platforms were deliberately configured to welcome Swedish users rather than restrict their access.
Further investigation revealed promotional activities through Swedish-language websites and content creators. These marketing efforts reinforced concerns that Novatech was deliberately pursuing Swedish customers.
Regulatory officials conducted an undercover registration attempt on one platform. Though the transaction wasn’t finalized, authorities verified that Swedish users could easily establish accounts and progress through the registration procedures.
Sweden Emphasizes Consumer Protection Standards
Swedish legislation mandates that all gambling operators obtain domestic licensing before serving residents. Licensed platforms must comply with strict standards covering responsible gaming practices, age authentication, and consumer protection measures.
Regulators warned that players utilizing unlicensed platforms may lose access to these critical protections. Since liberalizing its gambling market to licensed private operators in 2019, Sweden has intensified efforts to restrict unlicensed offshore platforms from accessing local consumers.
Although licensed operators dominate Sweden’s sports betting sector, unlicensed websites continue to maintain a presence in the online casino space.
Historic Dutch Penalty Intensifies Regulatory Scrutiny
The Swedish prohibition arrived mere days after Dutch gambling authorities levied a record-breaking €24.9 million fine against Novatech through the Kansspelautoriteit.
Dutch investigators successfully created accounts, deposited money, and gambled across multiple Novatech-affiliated domains without encountering geographic restrictions. The regulator additionally identified deficiencies in the operator’s age verification systems.
Cryptocurrency payment options were detected on the platforms, according to Dutch regulatory findings.
The penalty amount could have been substantially higher. Dutch authorities acknowledged the fine would have surpassed €100 million without statutory limitations capping penalties at 10% of an operator’s worldwide revenue.
The consecutive enforcement actions from both European nations occurred within a single week. Each regulator independently determined that Novatech’s platforms lacked fundamental geographic restrictions to prevent unauthorized local access.
European gambling authorities have intensified enforcement campaigns against offshore operators conducting marketing activities toward local populations without appropriate licensing. Regulators argue these operators compromise consumer safeguards and create inequitable market conditions for licensed businesses.
Sweden’s investigation verified the absence of technical controls preventing Swedish residents from platform access. Dutch regulators reached parallel conclusions regarding accessibility from the Netherlands.
The Kansspelautoriteit’s €24.9 million sanction represents the highest penalty the Dutch regulator has ever imposed.
