The Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal upheld SEK4 million and SEK40 million fines on Bet365’s Hillside subsidiaries. Both companies breached Swedish player protection and deposit limit rules between 2019 and 2022, and Hillside’s appeals were dismissed on Thursday.
Bet365 operator fines Sweden The Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping upheld a SEK4 million gaming fine and a SEK40 million sports betting fine. Hillside breached Chapter 14 Section 1 of the Swedish Gambling Act by allowing unlimited deposits from 2019 to April 2022 and failing to intervene with high-risk players promptly.
- Hillside’s Duty of Care Failures
- The No-Limit Deposit Breach
- A Second Fine in the Netherlands
- Hillside’s Rejected Defences
Two Swedish courts upheld the penalties. The Administrative Court in Linköping confirmed the gaming fine, and the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping rejected Hillside’s appeal on Thursday. The rulings reaffirmed earlier warnings and imposed SEK4 million on the gaming arm and SEK40 million on the sports betting business.
Spelinspektionen is the regulator behind both decisions. It found that Hillside relied too heavily on automated messages and was slow to escalate to manual reviews. In several cases, the operator took almost a month to apply stronger restrictions while customers kept gambling at risky levels.
Hillside’s duty of care failures
The courts sided with the regulator on the core issue. Section 1 of Chapter 14 of the Swedish Gambling Act requires Arden Consult licence holders to monitor player activity continuously and intervene as necessary to prevent harm. Hillside was found to have failed in that duty between 2019 and 2022, and the breaches were judged systemic rather than isolated.
Spelinspektionen’s analysis covered the 10 customers with the highest losses over a two-month period from 17 October to 17 December 2021. Five of those profiles were examined in greater detail. All 10 showed frequent deposits and losses that should have triggered Hillside’s own early risk detection system. The regulator noted that the customers continued to lose money despite interventions that were largely informational in nature.
The no-limit deposit breach
Between 1 January 2019 and 18 April 2022, customers on Hillside’s platform could opt into a “no limit” deposit setting. Swedish law requires players to actively choose a daily, weekly and monthly ceiling. A technical ceiling of SEK500 million existed, but it was neither communicated nor enforced as an active limit, which made the option incompatible with the Gambling Act.
The regulator argued the original SEK65 million fine should have been reduced, but a substantial SEK40 million penalty was required instead. The gaming arm’s original proposal was lowered from Spelinspektionen’s initial figure and ultimately confirmed at SEK4 million. As a result, Hillside’s position that the option was functionally capped was rejected as insufficient.
A second fine in the Netherlands
Hillside has now been hit twice in a year. The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit imposed a binding order at the start of this year after Hillside failed to comply with certain duty of care requirements. KSA said Hillside “did not adequately” respond to signals that players may no longer be able to afford their gambling.
The period in question ran from 6 December 2024 to 6 June 2025, and KSA found Hillside failed to apply appropriate interventions throughout it. The Swedish rulings are the most significant to date for a Hillside subsidiary, and the two fines remain the highest ever imposed in Sweden against the operator.
Hillside’s rejected defences
Hillside argued its early risk detection system was generally effective and pointed to the limited sample analysed, describing it as an insignificant fraction of its clientele. It also argued Swedish guidance lacked precision on intervention timing and claimed the “no limit” option was functionally capped and aligned with early guidance. Both arguments failed in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fines did the Swedish court impose on Hillside?
The court imposed SEK4 million on the gaming arm and SEK40 million on the sports betting business. The original SEK65 million sports fine was lowered but a substantial penalty of SEK40 million was ultimately required.
Why did the court uphold the fines?
Hillside relied too heavily on automated messages and was slow to escalate to manual reviews. Customers continued to gamble at risky levels while restrictions took up to almost a month to apply, breaching the duty of care under the Swedish Gambling Act.
What was the no-limit deposit rule?
From 1 January 2019 to 18 April 2022, customers could opt for a “no limit” deposit setting, bypassing the requirement for players to actively select a daily, weekly and monthly ceiling. The technical SEK500 million ceiling was not communicated or enforced as an active limit.
Which Swedish court issued the ruling?
The Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping dismissed Hillside’s appeal on Thursday. The original case was heard by the Administrative Court in Linköping, which confirmed the SEK4 million gaming fine.
How many players were analysed?
Spelinspektionen targeted the 10 players with the highest losses over two months, from 17 October to 17 December 2021. Five of those profiles were examined in greater detail. All showed frequent deposits and losses that triggered Hillside’s early risk detection system.
Was Hillside also fined in the Netherlands?
Yes. Kansspelautoriteit imposed a binding order at the start of this year for the period from 6 December 2024 to 6 June 2025. KSA said Hillside did not adequately respond to signals that players may no longer be able to afford their gambling.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
