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Read Full BioSwedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has ordered an immediate ban on Satoshi Gaming Group.
The ban, announced last Thursday, stems from an investigation that found the Curacao-based operator had offered online gaming through its Trustdice.win platform without a license. Investigators determined that the site specifically targeted Swedish customers, including marketing in Swedish.
As such, Spelinspektionen is requesting that Satoshi immediately cease its operations.
“We consider that, in the interests of consumer protection and to guarantee gaming safety, it is important that the decision is complied with immediately,” Spelinspektionen said in a statement. “The decision shall, therefore, apply immediately.”
Satoshi at the Center of Extensive Inquiry
In the wake of regulatory scrutiny, Satoshi responded to an initial inquiry in February by asserting that it had blocked Swedish customers from using its site. However, Spelinspektionen conducted a follow-up investigation, which found that users still had access to the site through an alternative IP address.
Based on these findings, the operator committed to implementing further restrictions against Swedish players. This included removing all Swedish language from the Trustdice.win site. However, Satoshi did not say when it would make these changes.
The regulator stated: “Satoshi Gaming Group provides games in Sweden because the company’s website, trustdice.win has terms and conditions for participation in games in Swedish, as well as policy documents, FAQs and other information in Swedish.”
“Furthermore, the company markets itself to Swedish consumers through affiliates”
Nevertheless, another inspection in April found that the site was still operating in violation of Sweden’s Gambling Act.
Despite orders from Spelinspektionen, Satoshi had not halted its operations in Sweden as of Thursday. Regulators did not specify what penalties they would seek if Satoshi continued to refuse to comply.
Challenges Remain for Regulators
Cracking down on illegal gambling remains a fight for regulators. Spelinspektionen released a report last week stating that offshore operators remain easily accessible for players in Sweden. Current laws state that regulators can only act against unlicensed operators who explicitly target consumers based on the “direction criterion.”
Skin betting, where players use virtual currency for illegal gambling, remains a focus for regulators. This type of betting accounted for 41% of all traffic to unlicensed sites in 2024, compared to 41% the previous year.
Regulators added that illegal sites marketed in English are increasingly challenging to track.
They noted: “Consumer protection on these sites is generally significantly weaker than what applies within the Swedish licensed market. For example, the Authority has not observed anything comparable to Sweden’s duty of care among this category of sites.”
It continued: “The presence and scale of bonuses are also greater than what is allowed in Sweden. Cashback and VIP programs are also commonly offered.”
