• Spelinspektionen engaged in monitoring influencers, including Twitch streamers
• The scrutiny identified that some streamers promoted illegal gambling
• Following supervision, the influencers ceased the promotion of gambling operators without a license

The gambling watchdog in Sweden, Spelinspektionen, announced that social media influencers who used to promote illegal gambling via digital channels have ceased such activities following supervision.

Illegal gambling promotion discontinued

The gambling watchdog announced Wednesday that it scrutinized influencers who used online channels to market illegal gambling activities.

In Sweden, the promotion of gambling services offered by a company or operator that doesn't hold a license is illegal.

Such activities are considered a violation under the Swedish Gambling Act 2018:1138 and fall under the scope of the country's gambling watchdog.

According to Spelinspektionen's statement, the "marketing has mainly been conducted through streaming on Twitch," the popular video-sharing platform.

Twitch has millions of viewers from across the globe and a large portion of its audience is children and young people.

Considering that, and the fact that the promotion of gambling operators without a license in Sweden is prohibited, the gambling regulator engaged in supervision.

Subsequently, the influencers ceased promoting illegal gambling, according to Spelinspektionen's announcement.

"The influencers who have been subject to supervision have, following the supervision of the Swedish Gambling Authority, ceased marketing illegal gambling," reads a statement released by the gambling watchdog.

Spelinspektionen remains vigilant

The supervision of influencers and the fight against the promotion and marketing of illegal gambling are part of the Swedish Gambling Authority's 2025 operational plan.

Besides restricting and preventing illegal gambling promotion, the regulator also focuses on reducing the exposure of children and young people to gambling.

"The Swedish Gambling Authority will also continue to supervise influencers and other actors who conduct or promote illegal gambling under the Gambling Act," the regulator explained.

Splenispektionen has the authority to implement fines or take other administrative actions against gambling operators or individuals in the sector.

Still, considering that the influencers in question ceased the promotion of illegal gambling activities, the regulator did not enforce fines or any other sanctions.

Only recently, a court in Sweden sided with Svenska Spel in a lawsuit against a SEK 100m fine.

The legal dispute stemmed from a hefty monetary sanction and warning announced by Spelinspektionen against Svenska Spel, following allegations about customer due diligence deficiencies.

Before that, three operators in Sweden received fines and warnings from the country's gambling watchdog.

As a result, Betsson, Snabbare and TSG were hit with fines of nearly SEK 19m ($2m) in total.

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