Steve Hoare

A WinBet domain has been barred from operating in Sweden due to missing local licence, the Spelinspektionen regulator has revealed.

Supervisory proceedings by the Swedish regulator unveiled that superb.bet, a website owned by Greece-based operator WinBet, had been targeting Swedish customers unlawfully.

This conclusion was based on a number of observations. Firstly, Spelinspektionen noted that the website included Swedish text alongside the option to use Swedish krona for deposits.

Secondly, no visible markers indicated that customers on a Swedish IP address were prevented from opening and operating an account on the website.

Greek licence holder WinBet was contacted for a comment by the Swedish Gambling Authority, but no such was received by the time the ban was publicly announced.

Swedish law dictates that the Gambling Act is relevant to all online gambling providers when their games are considered as targeting Swedish customers, regardless of whether these companies are operating from abroad.

“Circumstances of significance may be that the website contains Swedish text or offers deposits and winnings in Swedish currency,” Spelinspektionen reminded, as is the case with superb.bet.

“The Swedish gambling authority therefore decides to prohibit WinBet NV from providing games in Sweden. The decision shall therefore apply immediately.”

Not a precedent
The full power of the Swedish regulatory rulebook was recently felt by Cyprus licensee ASG 360 Services Ltd as well, when the gambling authority concluded that the operator had been targeting Swedish consumers in a similar manner.

This time however, the ASG-operated domains listed as illegal were around 20, with the most prominent of them being GG.Bet.

In the grand scheme of things, offshore companies registered in the EU pose a significant problem for Spelinspektionen. A recent study by the regulator found that around 13% of Sweden’s online traffic in 2024 was directed to EU-based unlicensed gambling websites.

More significant perhaps is the prominence of black market companies operating far away from EU shores. As part of the same study, Spelinspektionen revealed that 45% of all online traffic towards unlicensed services targeted companies in ‘third countries’. The bulk of that (38%) was directed at Curaçao-based entities.

Power struggle
But besides external threats, the regulator is also currently dealing with internal reviews of its capabilities and how to expand them more efficiently against illegal operators.

Last year, Sweden’s Audit Office said that Spelinspektionen’s monitoring work has been “less effective than desirable” since Sweden’s betting market was re-launched in 2019, prompting the above-mentioned review of the authority’s operational efficiency.

Talks are now in motion to discuss a potential overhaul of the Swedish Gambling Act so that Spelinspektonen’s authority is expanded to new horizons, with the final assessment due to be published no later than 17 September.

Romania will consider significant changes to its current gambling tax framework as proposed by the formation of a new coalition government.

The call for reforms follows the appointment of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the swearing-in of the new Bolojan Cabinet on 23 June 2025, led by newly elected President Nicușor Dan.

The coalition is formed as a “Pro-European Alliance” made of the parties of the PNL (National Liberal Party – Bolojan’s party), PSD (Social Democratic Party) and USR (Save Romania Union) with support from minority groups.

The tri-party coalition has moved quickly to launch a fiscal consolidation plan aimed at boosting public revenues and complying with EU-mandated reforms. The overhaul of gambling taxation falls under the stewardship of Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, who returned to the post as part of the new cabinet.

At a government briefing, Nazare stressed the urgency of gambling reforms, as measures are designed to curb the black market and “restore fairness and transparency” to a sector that has operated in a “regulatory grey zone for too long.”

“We are increasing the authorisation fees and all other related taxes on gambling in a very significant amount. Upon authorisation, they increase by almost 30%… We want to give a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is.”

Player tax scale replaces flat model
The most significant shift concerns player winnings, which will no longer be taxed at a flat 3% rate. Instead, Romania will adopt a progressive taxation model based on income brackets:

Up to 10,000 lei (+€2,000): taxed at 10%
10,001–66,750 lei ( up to €13,500): taxed at 1,000 lei + 20% of the amount exceeding 10,000 lei
Above 66,750 lei (+€13,500): taxed at 12,350 lei + 40% on the excess

Previously, the top effective tax for winnings over 66,750 lei was capped at 11,650 lei plus 40% — a structure now replaced by higher thresholds to capture more revenue. For high-stakes casino, slot, poker and lottery play, the government has also introduced a deductible threshold to prevent tax compounding.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Romania’s gambling regulator, ONJN, argued the revisions were necessary to curb unlicensed play, which has surged following the 2024 ban on gambling venues in towns with under 15,000 inhabitants.

“Players who have winnings up to 10,000 lei will now have 10% withheld instead of 3%,” Nazare stated: “We want to send a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is to vulnerable communities when left unchecked.”

Licence fees and authorisation costs climb
Gambling operators will also face elevated licensing and operational fees:

Online games authorisation: increased from 21% to 27%
Retail betting authorisation: increased from 21% to 23%
Slot machine fees: raised from €5,300 to €5,800 per machine
Vice tax on slots: doubled from €500 to €1,000
Lottery proceeds: now subject to a 6.5% tax

Though the government insists the burden has been balanced between operators and consumers, critics warn that over-taxation of player winnings could accelerate black market migration, especially on digital platforms without ONJN licences.

“Players will always follow net returns,” one market analyst said. “If licensed sites become less competitive, the state loses control.”

€1bn fiscal target from gambling
The revised gambling framework is expected to contribute over €1bn annually to Romania’s state budget, forming a key component of the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) milestones.

The reform package was published in the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures, now under public consultation via the Ministry of Finance. Alongside gambling, it introduces major tax increases on VAT, health contributions, and excise duties, while phasing out long-standing exemptions across sectors.

The Finance Ministry said the overhaul aims to meet EU deficit rules and unlock additional funding under the PNRR’s Component 8 on Fiscal and Pension System Reforms, which stipulates full implementation by mid‑2026.

USR demands changes…
While supporting fiscal reform, coalition member USR has insisted that the Romanian gambling sector is in urgent need of a comprehensive regulatory overhaul, following high-profile scandals tied to the governance of ONJN, the national gambling regulator.

Romania’s National Auditing Authority recently uncovered gross supervisory failures, including ONJN’s failure to collect €900m in unpaid authorisation fees between 2019 and 2023.

USR, which campaigned on a mandate of regulatory reform, is now spearheading efforts to replace ONJN altogether. The party is advocating for the creation of an entirely new regulatory body with stronger transparency, compliance, and enforcement powers.

As an interim measure, the USR is pushing to implement a monthly gambling spend cap of 10% of individual income, to be monitored by Romania’s Tax Authority (ANAF), with the goal of protecting vulnerable consumers.

“USR’s position is clear—without robust oversight and player protection, we risk losing control of this sector again,” said a party representative. Prior to the coalition’s formation, USR also secured an agreement to modernise the national self-exclusion system with tougher entry protocols, broader operator responsibilities, and real-time monitoring tools.

Draft Bill to be quickly cemented
The gambling tax reforms are part of the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures which remains in draft form.

Anastasiya Yautodzyeva: 4H Agency
“The proposed bill has not yet entered into force,” said Stasya Yautodzyeva, policy analyst at 4H Agency. “Comments and industry feedback can still be submitted until 13 July, with final reviews expected by 3 August 2025.”

Whilst modest amendments remain possible, Yautodzyeva warned that core tax increases are unlikely to be rolled back. If passed, the legislation will mark Romania’s sixth major overhaul of gambling taxation since 2018, reflecting a pattern of near-annual fiscal tinkering in pursuit of tighter control with no guaranteed results on revenues.

“There is a slim chance that a strong and coordinated industry response may influence certain aspects of the bill, potentially softening some of its harsher measures,” she noted. “However, experience across multiple jurisdictions shows that restrictive fiscal and regulatory changes—especially when not paired with incentives or consumer protections—often push both operators and players towards offshore markets.”

“Sustainable regulation must strike a balance between enforcement and accessibility; otherwise, Romania’s well-intentioned reforms may unintentionally undermine the very goals they seek to achieve.”

Lithuania continues its overhaul of gambling legislation, applying reforms and restrictions that will establish a new gambling regime by 2028.

As approved by the Seimas (Parliament) in November 2024, Lithuania will begin another phase of its ‘gradual implementation’ to overhaul gambling laws from 1 July onwards.

Operators will face sweeping curbs on advertising activities as the promotion of brands will be limited to licensed premises and official websites, with all broader marketing channels including digital, broadcast and event sponsorships brought under strict control.

Television and media promotions are capped at two or three short 15-second slots per hour, with advertising coverage dependent on the time of day (afternoon or evening). Online -pop-up adverts and direct links to betting platforms are explicitly banned.

The controls are viewed as a precursor to a full advertising blackout that is set to be applied from 1 January 2028, when Lithuania will enforce one of the EU’s most stringent bans on gambling advertising.

Alongside marketing restrictions, from 1 July the legal gambling age will rise from 18 to 21 from July 2025, with the exception of national lottery draws. Licensed operators will also be required to strengthen player protection measures, including behavioural monitoring systems, deposit limits, and mandatory intervention training for frontline staff.

In January, the Seimas approved a separate set of anti-money laundering (AML) provisions targeting financial flows to illegal gambling sites. Under the new framework, all banks licensed by the Bank of Lithuania whether domestic or foreign must monitor gambling-related transactions and report suspicious activity to the national regulator, the Gambling Control Authority (LPT).

Critically, the rules require banks to block payments to blacklisted gambling sites within 24 hours of receiving a directive from the LPT. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to €6,000, with repeat breaches attracting the highest penalties.

To support enforcement, the LPT has been granted extended supervisory powers, including the right to impose fines of up to €700,000 for serious regulatory violations. In anticipation of advertising revenue losses across the media sector, the government has established a €4m transition fund to support affected publishers and broadcasters.

Operators were formally warned to prepare for sweeping compliance adjustments when the government submitted its legislative reform package to the European Council for review in May 2025.

Meanwhile, uncertainty lingers around the sector’s fiscal outlook. The Minister of Finance has yet to confirm whether Lithuania will proceed with plans to introduce a 22% tax on gambling income from slot machines and online games — a move that could significantly reshape the economics of the country’s digital gambling market.

The Seimas has underscored its determination to drive out illegal operators, protect consumers, and reshape the country’s gambling industry through a robust regulatory framework aligned with other EU nations.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is looking at introducing a new list of risk assessment documents for its members.

Feedback has been collected from the association members which completed the second annual reporting process on their implementation of EGBA’s updated AML guidelines.

These guidelines were first introduced back in March 2023, with the goal of preparing EGBA’s pan-European partnership network for future shifts in EU AML policy.

More specifically, last year saw the European Council approving a new legislation for the creation of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), which will be tasked with the supervision of financial risk compliance across EU states from 2026 onwards.

Under AMLA, EU operators will see the introduction of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) – a new reporting format that will bring a standardised compliance basis for all online gambling providers in Europe.

EGBA’s guidelines were created so that operators can become familiarised with the upcoming changes, and prepare for increased scrutiny that will cover all corners of the industry – from customer and business risk assessments, to suspicious transaction reporting, to record keeping.

Now that the mock reporting process has been completed for the second year in a row, EGBA will move to analyse the results and potentially introduce a minimum list of required AML-related documents, alongside updated guidance on risk assessments, payments, outsourcing, and sports integrity – all in accordance to the new EU policy coming in 2026.

The Union has faced previous criticism about lacking a cross-country unified strategy when tackling the black market. This new legislation might prove to be the needed chess piece for a checkmate.

Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann/Credit: EGBA
Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at EGBA, commented: “We’re pleased to have completed the second annual reporting process and want to thank our members for their dedication to this collaborative initiative.

“Together, we’re aiming to raise the bar for AML compliance standards across our members and, by example, influence other operators across the industry to do the same.

“We encourage operators who aren’t members of EGBA to join this initiative and help strengthen the sector’s contribution to the fight against financial crime.”