SWEDISH NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: ‘TEMPORARY’ RESTRICTIONS TO BECOME PERMANENT?

The Swedish Gambling Market Commission (Spelmarknadsutredningen) has published a report into the country’s online gambling regulations, and suggested even stricter rules. 

Led by special investigator and former MP, Anna-Lena Sörenson, the report has recommended new measures including a risk classification system for gambling products, with any products classified as high risk should be banned from being advertised between 6am and 9pm. 

Additionally, the report also calls for the SEK5000 deposit limit, that was introduced on the pretext of being a temporary response to the COVID-19 crisis, to be made permanent. 

Other proposals include a law concerning operators’ reporting requirements, and the relaxation of bonus restrictions for operators that raise money for charities, like lotteries, so that they can compete better against commercial operators. 

Though subject to a separate enquiry, the report also calls for tougher measures to be taken against unlicensed operators. 

The report rejects proposed statutory levels for horseracing and sports betting, and says the country’s Gambling Act is not the right legislation to cover controls on video game related issues like loot boxes, suggesting this should be dealt with at the EU level. 

Regarding the findings, MP, Anna-Lena Sörenson, said:

“This has been a complex assignment that has touched on a large number of different issues linked to gaming regulation, which in some cases have required difficult trade-offs. I believe that the proposals we come up with today can both contribute to strengthening consumer protection and make regulation more appropriate.” 

While Minister for Social Security, Ardalan Shekarabi, added:

“Spelmarknadsutredningen’s report will form an important basis for the Government’s forthcoming measures.”

Predictably, the Branscheforenigen för Onlienspel (BOS), which represents licensed operators, expressed dismay, with secretary-general, Gustaf Hoffstedt, saying:

“Sweden has invested in a licensing system with 102 operators that offer a high level of consumer protection. They pay around SEK4bn annually in gaming tax, invest in workplaces and staff, sponsor Swedish sports and contribute to Swedish technology know-how.

“Banning licensed gaming companies from marketing their services to Swedish consumers while leaving unlicensed companies free to offer their services to Swedish consumers is a bad proposal.

“This only leads to reduced consumer protection and to erode the Swedish gaming market.”

AYO.NEWS says:

While this is awful news for those operators trying to offer services in Sweden legitimately, it is something we’ve expected for some time now.

As we’ve said before, the ‘temporary’ restrictions were never going to be temporary, and were never anything to do with the COVID-19 crisis. It’s been obvious from the very beginning that characters like Shekarabi have been using the crisis as an excuse to make political capital, and have zero interest in ensuring a vibrant gaming industry or reducing problem gambling. 

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