Spelpaus reaches 80,000 Swedish player self-exclusion 

Spelinspektionen – Sweden’s national gambling regulator – has notified that the Spelpaus self-exclusion programme has surpassed 80,000 registrations. 

Spelpaus was initiated in January 2019 to coincide with the re-launch of Sweden’s online gambling marketplace, ensuring that licensed operators provide self-exclusion to at-risk and vulnerable consumers.

Swedish online gambling operators are required to connect their databases with Spelpaus programme which ensures that self-excluded players have no access to websites and cannot be communicated to.

2022 saw Spelinspektionen trial and launch Spelpaus 2.0, an updated and redeveloped programme featuring a new website, improved functionalities and further clear guidance on self-exclusion.

Prior to the update, Spelinspektionen revealed that its old system had registered 75,000 users since the relaunch of Sweden’s new gambling marketplace regulating online gambling services.

“The interest in suspending oneself from games is great and the number of suspended people now amounts to over 80,000 people.” – read Spelinspektionen’s update.

“Spelpaus.se continues to be an important part of the Gambling Authority’s work and resources for responsible gambling”

In September, Spelinspektionen announced that it would introduce its B2B licensing system from March 1, 2023, despite current legislators having made no progress regarding the process.

Swedish operators await on the Riksdag to conclude its review of final amendments that will update Sweden’s Gaming Act, with changes set to be implemented as of July 2023.

Final amendments will be overseen by a new centre-right coalition government that won September’s General Election.

Part of the winning coalition, Sweden’s Moderate Party has pledged to undertake a review on whether to split state-owned gambling operator Svenska Spel.

Furthermore, the Moderate Party seeks to apply constitutional safeguards to Sweden Gambling Act requiring all governments to secure Riksdag’s formal approval to change national gambling laws.