SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Inspectorate, has accepted some proposals for further regulation of the country’s industry, but maintains objections to others.
Notable recommendations made by the Swedish government’s ‘Gambling Market Inquiry’ in December 2020 included a tightening of advertisement regulations, including a call for a prohibition of advertising of casino games between 06:00 and 21:00.
Coordinated by Social Democrat MP Anna-Lena Sörenson, the independent inquiry aimed to provide a critical oversight of the Swedish government’s development of its regulatory framework regarding the country’s gambling market, which was launched just three years later in 2019.
Other recommendations made by the Inquiry included the implementation of a licensing regime for software developers, and for the deposit cap for slot machine limits of SEK5,000 – the equivalent to £429 – to be made permanent, as it is currently only in place on a temporary basis.
In its response, the Swedish regulator has supported the advertising proposals as well as the potential introduction of licences for software providers, but has criticised the call for an implementation of loss limits.
Describing ‘particular moderation’ of gaming advertising rules as ‘a positive step’ in enforcing responsible gambling, Spelinspektionen stated: “It is logical to have the same basic requirements for the marketing of games as on the marketing of alcohol-based on the risks associated with the products.”
However, maintaining its objections to a policy of loss limits, the body said that if this policy was introduced then it must ‘be supplemented with mandatory indication of login time’.
Concerns were also raised over a suggestion that the Swedish Public Health Agency create a risk classification model for different types of gambling.
In its criticism of this proposal, the Spelinspektionen argued that regulatory action should be prioritised and called for official guidance on the measurement of risk potential should be conducted.
The Spelinspektionen’s announcement follows the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling’s (BOS) support for the Gambling Market Inqury’s rejection of a proposed 5% betting levy by Swedish horse racing leaders.
