SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Esports data and technology solutions provider Abios has obtained a B2B permit to deliver its products and services to operators licensed in Sweden, the company confirmed in a statement today.
The Stockholm-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Kambi Group plc, has obtained a five-year permit to provide esports solutions. It will run until 30 June 2028, subject to regulatory requirements from Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority. The B2B licence in Sweden is, it said, the “latest in a series of recent successes for the company”.
Welcoming the development, Oskar Fröberg, CEO and Founder of Abios, said: “Being a company born and bred in Stockholm, we’re happy to acquire a B2B permit in Sweden and continue servicing our clients.
“One of our core missions is to enable the sustainable growth of the regulated esports market. Unlicensed operators often lack the robust safeguards against money laundering, problem gambling and payment solutions that governments require of regulated sportsbooks.
“As such, they don’t offer their end users the same level of customer protection and run a higher risk of acting as platforms for money laundering. By supplying regulated sportsbooks with high-quality content, we are excited to bring esports entertainment to a larger audience.”
Abios’ permit acquisition follows the introduction by the Swedish regulator of a new gambling bill requiring betting suppliers to obtain B2B permits to service their clients to combat unlicensed gambling. Effective from 1 July 2023, suppliers will be unable to service licensed customers in Sweden without a permit and are prohibited from serving unlicensed clients in the jurisdiction.
The company also recently released its new odds service for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), providing operators with features including same-game bet builder, player props and flash markets. Additionally, it offers markets for the largest PC-based esports, including League of Legends, VALORANT and Dota 2.
