Sweden Bans Duel.com Operator After Checks Find Continued Local Targeting

Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has prohibited Immortal Snail LLC, the company operating Duel.com, from providing gambling in the country without the required licence.

The regulator published the action on October 28, saying the company lacked Swedish authorisation. It described enforcement against unlicensed operators as part of its efforts to direct gambling towards businesses holding local licences. 

Checks Found Swedish Access Remained Available

According to regulatory findings reported by SBC News, Duel.com remained accessible from Swedish IP addresses despite the operator’s indication that Sweden should be blocked.

Checks also found Swedish-language content and Swedish kronor available when accessing the platform from Sweden. The regulator additionally identified continued Swedish-language marketing.

These findings formed part of the case supporting the prohibition. They establish that the proposed restrictions had not been implemented when investigators checked the website, rather than demonstrating compliance or non-compliance following a subsequent inspection of the final ban.

Operator Defended Swedish-Language Offering

In its response to the regulator, Immortal Snail argued that Swedish was an international language and said it should not have to remove it from the website.

The company also stated that it could not control whether payments were made in Swedish kronor. Spelinspektionen’s findings nevertheless showed that the local-language and currency features remained available during its investigation.

Sweden’s Consumer Agency identifies Swedish-language content, local-currency deposits and winnings, and marketing directed at Swedish consumers as features that unlicensed businesses must not use to target the market.

Anjouan Licence Does Not Replace Swedish Approval

SBC News reported that Duel.com operates under an Anjouan licence. That authorisation does not replace the Swedish licence required to target consumers in Sweden.

The confirmed regulatory action concerns Immortal Snail’s activities in Sweden. Spelinspektionen’s public announcement does not establish the platform’s licensing status in every other country where it may attract users.