Swedish regulator has banned “ibet” and “Arctic Casino”

Sweden’s gambling authority has moved to block access to the online casino brands ibet and  Arctic Casino, concluding that both platforms were available to Swedish players despite lacking a local licence. The brands are operated by Malta-based company  Claymore Malta Ltd .

Spelinspektionen said the decision followed a review of how the gambling sites functioned for users located in Sweden. The regulator determined that Swedish customers were able to sign up and play without encountering any meaningful restrictions.

Websites adapted for Swedish users

According to the authority, the website  ibet.com  displayed registration settings tailored to visitors from Sweden. When accessed from a Swedish IP address, the sign-up process automatically reflected Swedish details, making account creation straightforward for local users.

Such design choices were viewed as incompatible with claims that the operator was not addressing the Swedish market.

Lack of blocking measures

Spelinspektionen also tested whether Swedish players were prevented from using the gambling services. The regulator found no technical barriers that would stop users in Sweden from registering, depositing, or participating in games. Under Swedish gambling rules, operators without a licence are expected to actively prevent access from the country. The absence of these controls weighed heavily in the regulator’s assessment.

Promotion through Swedish-language channels

Marketing activity linked to ibet was another factor in the ban. The regulator identified promotions carried out by Swedish-speaking creators on video platforms, as well as visibility on Swedish-language websites. These channels were considered to be clearly oriented toward a domestic audience. During the review, Spelinspektionen also confirmed that Claymore Malta operates Arctic Casino  via  arcticcasino.com, bringing both brands under the same enforcement action.

Regulator unconvinced by operator’s actions

Claymore Malta later informed the regulator that it had scaled back its exposure in Sweden, including ending SMS campaigns and removing Swedish-language content. Spelinspektionen said these steps were either incomplete or ineffective, noting that Swedish-facing marketing signals were still present. As a result, the authority concluded that Claymore Malta had failed to take sufficient action to keep Swedish players off its platforms.

Part of a wider crackdown

The move against ibet and Arctic Casino comes as Sweden debates tougher rules for dealing with offshore gambling operators. Proposed legal changes would shift the focus away from whether a site is “aimed” at Sweden and instead examine whether players located in the country can access the service at all.

Spelinspektionen has argued that such an approach would simplify enforcement and close loopholes used by unlicensed operators. Sweden continues to revise its gambling legislation. In September, the Ministry of Finance published a report by Marcus Isgren outlining measures aimed at closing loopholes used by unlicensed operators. It was also announced that Sweden has appointed Erik Eldhagen to a new state role that will help shape the country’s gambling regulations. This signals that further changes can be expected as new leadership takes over.