Swedish monopoly operators launch new trade body
Svenska Spel and ATG among founders of new trade association formed to replace the now defunct SPER
Sweden’s monopoly operators including Svenska Spel and ATG have announced the launch of a new trade association ahead of proposals to re-regulate the country’s gambling market.
The National Gaming Industry Organisation (Spelbranschens Riksorganisation) replaced the now defunct Games Industry Ethics Council (SPER) last week and plans to represent both online and land-based operators.
The new body, which also includes Paf as a supporting member, will be led by Svenska Spel’s CEO Lennart Kall as chairman and Jenny Nilzon, who previously worked at the Swedish Postcode Lottery for three years, as CEO.
“We have several major challenges in the industry, for example, that the general confidence is declining,” Nilzon said.
“Now we must start to do more and talk less. To cooperate across borders will be crucial if we are to succeed, and it is particularly gratifying that Paf [has joined],” Nilzon added.
The trade body’s membership currently includes Svenska Spel, ATG, Folkspel, Swedish Postcode Lottery and Miljonlotteriet.
The launch of the National Gaming Industry Organisation comes after talks to merge SPER with the Association of Online Gambling Operators (BOS) collapsed last year over differences concerning consumer protection best-practice.
SPER instead announced plans to transform itself from an ”ethical advice” body into a trade organisation to ensure a ”high level of consumer protection” and strengthen its efforts for responsible gaming.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS, told EGR Intel this morning he was not concerned by the launch of a potential rival organisation.
”On the contrary, the monopoly operators and the government owned operators have worked with ethical issues under the SPER umbrella for several years, and I welcome the fact that they now are transforming themselves into a trade association,” he said.