TLDR
- Sweden’s Spelinspektionen ordered Novatech to stop operating in the country after finding it offered gambling without a licence
- Investigators found Novatech websites automatically assigned Swedish country codes to users registering from Swedish IP addresses
- Swedish-language websites and video creators were reportedly promoting Novatech’s platforms to local audiences
- Days earlier, the Dutch regulator fined Novatech a record €24.9 million for illegally targeting players in the Netherlands
- The Dutch fine could have topped €100 million but was capped at 10% of the company’s global turnover
Sweden has ordered Novatech to immediately stop offering gambling services in the country. The decision came after an investigation found the company was targeting Swedish players without holding the required licence.
The ruling was issued by the Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling regulator. It follows an inspection carried out between 23 and 25 February 2026.
The regulator examined several websites linked to Novatech. These included qbet.com, mangacasino.com, slotexpress.com, 55bet.com, and 30bet.com.
During the inspection, investigators found that users connecting from Swedish IP addresses were automatically assigned Sweden’s country code during registration. The regulator said this showed the platforms were set up to accept Swedish players rather than block them.
Authorities also found that Swedish-language websites and video creators were promoting the platforms. This added to concerns that Novatech was actively seeking Swedish customers.
The regulator carried out a concealed test purchase on one of the platforms. While the transaction was not completed, officials confirmed that Swedish users could freely create accounts and begin the registration process.
Sweden Cites Player Protection Concerns
Under Swedish law, operators must hold a local licence to offer gambling services to residents. Licensed operators are required to follow rules around responsible gambling, age verification, and player protection.
The regulator said players using unlicensed platforms could be left without these safeguards. Sweden opened its gambling market to licensed private operators in 2019 and has since been working to limit offshore platforms from reaching local players.
While licensed operators control much of the sports betting market in Sweden, unlicensed sites remain active in the online casino space.
Record Dutch Fine Adds to Regulatory Pressure
The Swedish ban came just days after Novatech was hit with a record €24.9 million fine from the Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit.
Dutch investigators said they were able to register accounts, deposit funds, and gamble on several Novatech-linked domains without being blocked. The regulator also flagged problems with the company’s age verification procedures.
Cryptocurrency payments were available on the sites, according to Dutch officials.
The fine could have been much larger. Dutch authorities said the penalty would have exceeded €100 million if not for a legal cap limiting fines to 10% of a company’s global turnover.
The back-to-back actions from two European countries came within the same week. Both regulators found that Novatech’s platforms lacked basic restrictions to prevent local users from accessing the sites.
European regulators have been increasing enforcement against offshore gambling operators that market to local players without obtaining licences. Authorities say these operators undermine consumer protections and create unfair competition for licensed companies.
Sweden’s investigation confirmed that no technical barriers were in place to stop Swedish residents from using the platforms. The Dutch regulator reached a similar conclusion about access from the Netherlands.
The Kansspelautoriteit’s €24.9 million penalty is the largest fine the Dutch regulator has issued to date.
