Sweden Bans Duel.com Operator Over Unlicensed Access

Sweden's gambling regulator has ordered an immediate prohibition against Immortal Snail LLC, the operator behind the offshore platform duel.com. The move targets a company that has drawn controversy for its marketing tactics and its licensing under the Anjouan Gaming Authority.

The regulator, Spelinspektionen, said the ban was issued in the interests of consumer protection. It argues that duel.com continues to make its services available to Swedish consumers despite lacking a local licence.

Immortal Snail operates under a licence from the Anjouan Gaming Authority, which itself has become a focus of controversy. The Comoros government denies the authority's claims of legitimacy and has said it aims to take legal action over what it describes as an unauthorised licensing regime, as cited by The Guardian.

Spelinspektionen found that Immortal Snail has been unwilling to remove Swedish-language content from its platform. The regulator also raised concerns about the company's proposed approach to restricting Swedish access.

The operator made references to IP-blocking Sweden but provided no evidence of measures designed to prevent Swedish customers from accessing the platform through alternative means. According to the investigation, even the limited safeguards discussed had not been fully implemented.

“The Swedish currency SEK and Swedish as a language still appear when logging in from a Swedish IP address. Furthermore, the regulator has noted continued Swedish-language marketing of the company’s website duel.com,”

The effectiveness of the Swedish regulator's order remains uncertain. Regulators across multiple jurisdictions have long struggled to take action against offshore operators, many of which continue operating despite penalties, warnings or cease-and-desist orders.

For Malta's iGaming sector, the case highlights the ongoing challenge of enforcement against operators licensed in jurisdictions with disputed regulatory standing. It also underscores the importance of robust compliance measures for any operator targeting European markets.

The Anjouan licensing regime has faced increased scrutiny. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and The Guardian have suggested that Anjouan licences are being facilitated by a London-based company, ACS Global Custodian, reportedly linked to the Sorsky family in Britain. Those involved have denied ACS's involvement in gaming licences.