Sports betting operator ATG has been warned by the Swedish Consumer Ombudsman over self-exclusion failures. 

Konsumentverket (KO) has scolded AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) for sending direct marketing messages to 77 people who had registered with Sweden’s Spelpaus self-exclusion service, and for sending a further 1,900 marketing messages to people who had opted not to receive direct marketing.

Additionally, KO warned ATG for failing to include the appropriate age requirements on certain advertisements. 

Though KO has only issued warnings, it has made it clear that any subsequent failure to comply with the strict self-exclusion regulations will lead to a SEK3 million (approx. €285,000) fine, and further age requirement failings will land it a SEK1.5 million penalty. 

KO has been investigating ATG since February, when it received complaints about marketing from individuals who had self-excluded, and a complaint about missing age restrictions from fellow gambling operator Kindred Group. 

In response ATG has said it accepts KO’s decisions, and that the messages sent out were not marketing, but rather account information, and had been sent by mistake. It also explained that age notifications were only missing from messages that were sent to players who had already been verified as of legal age. 

AYO.NEWS says:

ATG getting away with yet another failure is sure to make other Swedish-licensed operators roll their eyes, with many feeling the former betting monopoly gets special treatment from the authorities.

In December 2019, ATG got away with a mere slap on the wrist after offering betting on unregistered horse racing, and in March 2020 the operator dodged a fine after offering illegal bonuses to several customers. 

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