ATG board overhauled by new Swedish government

Sweden’s new centre-right coalition government continues to announce new appointments impacting the Swedish gambling sector.

On 1 June, the government confirmed the appointment of Peter Erik Norman as new Chairman of the board of AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) – the Swedish racetracks and horseracing totalizer network operating firm.

 A Moderate Party member, Norman is the former Financial Services Minister (2010-2014) under the premiership of PM Fredrik Reinfeldt. Further high-profile appointments have seen Norman serve as the Chief Executive of Sweden AP-7 Pension Fund.

The appointment of Norman as Chairman will be officially confirmed to Swedish horseracing stakeholders at the ATG’s Ordinary General Meeting for 2023.

Norman will oversee ATG interests on behalf of its mutual 50/50 ownership between  Svensk Travsport (Swedish trotting) and Svensk Galopp (Swedish Horseracing).

Sweden’s government holds no ownership interests in ATG, but has the authority to appoint the majority of the board by electing six out of eleven members.

Further changes saw the government appoint economist Eva Listi and business leader Marie Osberg as new members of the board of ATG.

Hasse Lord Skarplöth will continue serving as CEO of ATG, who led the post-COVID revival of Swedish horse racing, which has witnessed a stagnant financial performance since 2020.

Further regulatory affairs saw the Swedish government confirm the imminent changes to the Gambling Act that will be imposed from 1 July 2023. Gambling inspectorate Spelinspektionen will secure new supervisory powers that  will enable it to  require payment service providers (PSPs) to block transactions, including the payout of winnings, from unlicensed gambling operators