Swedish Court Orders Refund of Losses for Gambling Addiction
In December 2023, a groundbreaking judgment was delivered by the Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal in favour of a former gambling addict who incurred a loss of over EUR 500,000 through gambling.
The court ruled that the individual was entitled to reimbursement from the gambling company, as the bets were deemed void under the Swedish Contracts Act. The landmark ruling allows individuals who lost money under similar circumstances to seek similar compensation from Swedish gambling companies.
In 2019, the Swedish gambling market was substantially regulated, resulting in many of the marketing tactics employed by the gambling company in this particular case being deemed illegal. As such, this case is unlikely to significantly impact the current marketing practices of gambling companies. Nonetheless, it does present an opportunity for individuals with a history of gambling addiction to seek reimbursement for money they have lost, provided that the gambling companies utilized comparable marketing strategies and were aware that the individual had gambling problems.
Swedish gambling companies face heightened financial risks in this regard.
