Dutch Gambling Giant Fined €24.9M for Illegal Sweden Operations
Dutch gambling operator Novatech has been fined €24.9 million for offering illegal services in Sweden. The penalty follows an investigation by Sweden's Spelinspektionen, which found the company targeting Swedish players without a local licence. Authorities have now ordered the firm to halt all operations in the country.
The case centred on several Novatech websites, including qbet.com, mangacasino.com, and slotexpress.com. Swedish regulators discovered that these platforms automatically assigned Swedish country codes to users, proving they were actively marketing to local players.
The fine could have reached over €100 million if not for limits set by the Dutch Gaming Charter. Instead, the Kansspelautoriteit, the Netherlands' gambling watchdog, imposed the reduced penalty. This marks one of the largest fines for unlicensed gambling in Europe this year.
No other foreign gambling providers have faced similar sanctions in 2026 for breaching EU licensing rules. Swedish authorities have made it clear that unlicensed operators will face strict enforcement.
Novatech must now cease all gambling services in Sweden. The €24.9 million fine serves as a warning to other operators without proper licensing. Regulators have confirmed they will continue monitoring compliance with local gambling laws.
