Genesis and Paf fined over Swedish self-exclusion failings

Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has issued fines to Genesis Global and Paf Consulting, a subsidiary of the Åland Islands-based operator, after ruling that the two licensees breached the country’s self-exclusion regulations. Genesis has been issued with a fine of SEK4m (£329,600/€382,000/$431,900) and an official warning, while Paf has also been reprimanded and handed a fine of SEK100,000. Licensed operators in Sweden are required to block access to anyone that has signed up to the Spelpaus.se self-exclusion scheme under new laws that came into force on January 1. Licensees are also prohibited from contacting any consumers on this list with marketing materials. However, a number of consumers that have self-excluded informed the regulator that they were still able to gamble on sites operated by Genesis and Paf. Genesis owns and operates the Casinojoy.com, Spel.com, Casinocruise.com, Spinit.com, Sloty.com, Vegashero.com, Pelaa.com and Casinogods.com sites in Sweden. Paf, meanwhile, is active in the country via its Paf.com and Paf.se websites. Spelinspektionen has issued a series of warnings to operators about adhering to this licence requirement. The regulator also contacted Genesis Global shortly after the country’s regulated market opened warning that it faced serious sanctions if it did not comply with self-exclusion rules. Genesis responded to this initial warning by saying that it had integrated with the registry, putting the initial issue down to a third party’s system failing to integrate with Spelpaus.se. The operator also said it had contacted and refunded all affected players during this initial phase, closing all of the accounts in question. At the time, Genesis said: “Genesis always takes compliance and responsible gambling at the core of its business operations in order to ensure a safe gaming environment to its players. Therefore, any regulatory requirements and guidelines are being treated as highest priority.”