Sweden's opposition party calls for government to offload Svenska Spel

Sweden’s Moderate Party has called for state-owned operator Svenska Spel to be divested into a separate lottery business and sports betting and gaming business.

The opposition party has moved to throw its weight behind proposals in a follow-up motion to the government’s gambling bill.

The motion calls for Svenska Spel to be divided into two separate parts, with the competitive gambling segment (sports betting and gaming) sold to the private sector.

Elsewhere, the party has moved for the liberalisation of the current bonus regulations in the market.

At present, bonuses are only offered to Swedish customers when they first open an account and are capped.

The Moderate Party also called for further liberalisation of future gambling policy, in effect bypassing the Swedish Riksdag to implement policy without its arbitration.

The proposal argues that the government should be able to change gambling policy without mandate from the Riksdag.

The new Swedish gambling bill contains proposals around a licensing system for B2B suppliers, which the Moderate Party has backed.

The new legislation would come into effect on 1 March 2023, if approved.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS general secretary, said: “With this statement from the Moderate Party, I welcome the fact that the two largest parties in opposition now have been so clear about their intention to privatise the competitive part of state operator Svenska Spel.

“To run a commercial gambling business is not appropriate for a state. A state shall set rules for commercial gambling companies and make sure the companies comply with these rules, rather than being an active player on the market itself,” he added.