Finnish media personality and entrepreneur Jethro Rostedt is facing the possibility of a substantial fine after authorities concluded that gambling-related material remained available on his Twitch account despite an explicit prohibition. The Finnish National Police Board, cited by Iltalehti, says the content violated domestic gambling rules by targeting audiences in mainland Finland.
The case stems from a decision issued in December 2024, when the police board barred Rostedt from promoting gambling services through the live-streaming platform. To reinforce the ban, regulators attached a conditional fine of €30,000. Subsequent reviews found that the order had not been fully observed, prompting authorities to consider enforcing a reduced penalty.
Authorities cite repeated gambling promotion
According to the police board, gambling-related material appeared on Rostedt’s account on a recurring basis and followed a systematic pattern. Regulators said the content included gambling offers, prompts encouraging participation, and links directing viewers to online gambling platforms. Because the material was considered to be aimed at mainland Finland, authorities concluded it breached Finnish legislation that restricts gambling marketing.
The police board determined that the activity was intended to attract Finnish consumers and encourage participation in gambling within Finland. Investigators also pointed to archived clips that remained accessible after the ban was issued. These clips allegedly contained affiliate-style links and cartoon characters resembling Rostedt that were used in connection with gambling sites.
In addition, one gambling platform reportedly featured a section named after Rostedt’s nickname, which authorities viewed as reinforcing the perceived link between him and the gambling services. The police board first became aware of the account after receiving an online tip in May 2024.
Rostedt denies involvement and control
Rostedt has rejected the allegations, denying that he acted as a gambling advertiser or partner. In his submissions to the police board in October 2024, he argued that Twitch operates globally and does not allow streamers to target specific countries. He maintained that acknowledging viewers from Finland during broadcasts should not be interpreted as gambling promotion.
He also stated that he only managed the account during live broadcasts and denied responsibility for older material that remained available afterward. According to Rostedt, he asked the account administrator to remove all remaining content and claimed he was unaware that any gambling-related material was still accessible.
Rostedt further denied receiving any payment or entering into affiliate agreements with gambling operators. He said he had no contracts with casinos and did not market gambling services. He later informed authorities that he had ended his activities on Twitch altogether.
Reduced fine and regulatory options
In a follow-up review conducted in October, the police board acknowledged that Rostedt had partially complied with the prohibition. Authorities said he had removed some recordings and had not added new material to the account. However, they also noted that numerous older clips were still available nearly a year after the original ban was imposed.
As a result, the regulator lowered the potential penalty. Even after the reduction, Rostedt still faces a possible fine of €25,000. The police board has stated that it retains the authority either to enforce the conditional fine or to impose a new penalty if the marketing ban continues to be violated.
Rostedt has criticized the proposed fine as unreasonable and said he does not have the means to pay it. He has also pointed to what he considers an excessively long handling time, noting that more than a year passed between his response to authorities and the latest correspondence. The police board has not yet announced whether it will proceed with enforcing the fine or take further action.
