Key points:
- Versus Odds BV is banned from operating in Sweden without a licence
- The investigation revealed Swedish-language content and marketing targeting Swedish consumers
- Spelinspektionen’s decision is part of ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with the Gambling Act
Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, has issued a ban against Versus Odds BV, preventing the operator from offering gambling services in Sweden without a valid licence.
The decision, announced on 2 January 2025, applies immediately and follows an inspection of the operator’s website, fortunepanda.com.
The investigation found that the website contained Swedish-language terms, policy documents, FAQs and promotional materials. It also noted that Swedish consumers could register and create accounts, suggesting the platform was targeting Swedish users.
Versus Odds BV, based in Curaçao, operates multiple gambling sites, including fortunepanda6.com, artcasino.io and bet-nox.com.
Under Chapter 3, Section 3 of Sweden’s Gambling Act (2018:1138), operators must obtain a licence to offer gambling services within the country. Spelinspektionen’s decision was based on evidence that Versus Odds BV failed to comply with these regulations, which are designed to protect consumers and promote responsible gambling practices.
Good to know: Despite being given the opportunity to respond to the findings, the company did not provide comments to Spelinspektionen before the ban was enforced
The ban aligns with Spelinspektionen’s strategy to combat unlicensed gambling and channel players toward licensed operators. It follows recent actions against other operators, including Cosmogames, which was banned in December 2024 for similar violations.
The Swedish Gambling Authority has intensified enforcement in recent months. In December 2024, it issued sanctions against four licensed operator – Snabbare, Hajper, ComeOn Sweden and Casinostugan – for unauthorised bonus offers, imposing fines totalling SEK 59m ($5.6m).
Additionally, Spelinspektionen launched its “Unnecessarily Exciting” campaign to educate consumers about the risks associated with unlicensed gambling. The campaign stresses the importance of using licensed operators to ensure player protection and compliance with Swedish regulations.
