Betfair issued £300k penalty for offering bets on Sweden’s U21 league

British gambling company Betfair has received a penalty fee of SEK 4 million (just over £300,000) and a warning for unauthorised betting.

On several occasions, the operator has offered betting on the Under-21 14 football league to its Swedish customers, which is not permitted. 

This is because, in compliance with regulation SIFS 2020:2, betting on football in the country’s league system may only be offered at the four highest league levels.

The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) stated that it considers that the violation is “serious and has occurred systematically”. 

It continued: “The fact that the games have taken place at low compensation for Betfair does not affect the Gambling Authority’s assessment.”

Similarly, this week, Entain has also had to pay an infringement notice of AU$13,320 by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) after illegally offering online in-play betting to customers.

Through its two Australian sportsbook brands, Ladbrokes and Neds, the operator offered bets on an LIV golf tournament held in Bangkok in October 2022, accepting a total of 78 in-play bets online, which were all voided.

The country’s gaming laws state that in-play bets must only be placed by calling and speaking to an operator and are not allowed to be offered in a purely online format.