Danske Spil’s Youbet up again after SBTech integrity audit
Danske Spil’s Youbet.dk sportsbook has relaunched following an integrity audit of the betting markets available through the site by technology provider SBTech.
It had initially appeared that the site would remain offline through the Easter weekend, after being taken down for the audit. However it has now been relaunched in quick order, following the completion of the process.
Former state gaming monopoly Danske Spil temporarily shuttered Youbet earlier this week after the brand continued to offer bets on Swedish amateur football amid an emerging scandal about match-fixing in the competition.
This prompted the operator to pledge to cease offering markets on these competitions – with Sweden's lower leagues having long been dogged by integrity concerns – on 3 April. The competitions were then removed from Danske Spil's Oddset sportsbook, powered by SG Digital's OpenBet.
However, on 4 March, the games were still being offered by SBTech-powered Youbet.
The supplier explained that as a result of the most popular competitions for betting being suspended as a result of the novel coronvirus (Covid-19) pandemic, it had begun to offer many new sports to support its partners.
These were rolled out to all customers, but as a result of Danske Spil's decision to stop offering these markets, SBTech had to complete some bespoke development work to remove the feeds from the managed trading service it provides to Youbet. There is no suggestion that it had refused Danske Spil's request to remove the leagues, as suggested in some local media reports.
Despite the lack of sporting events available to bet on in the current climate, Danske Spil decided amid widespread local scrutiny of the betting markets being offered on their main Oddset brand to issue new guidance on event selection to its sportsbook technology providers.
Any events must meet the operator’s requirements in terms of transparency and being played to a sufficient professional level before it will offer betting on the contest, with SBTech's audit ensuring this was the case.
According to Danish newspaper Politiken, Danske Spil was warned by several clubs, players and sports authorities of the risk of offering bets on Swedish amateur football, with one friendly between AFC Eskilstuna and Näshulta GoIF scheduled for last Saturday called off after players reportedly received threats and came under pressure to influence the result from match-fixers.
Svenska Spel, Sweden's former gambling monopoly and another SBTech partner this week condemned operators for offering coverage of these markets. Chief executive Patrik Hofbauer and chairman Erik Strand said by doing so, operators risked the integrity of sport, and put customers in potential danger.
Danske Spil had not responded to a request for comment from iGB at the time of writing.
Danske Spil rolled out the YouBet.dk brand in March 2018, aiming to provide a sports betting experience targeting a younger audience. SBTech was selected to provide sports betting technology and its Chameleon360 igaming platform to power the site through a tender process.