ATG report shows "deeply worrying" traffic increase to black-market operators
Latest data from the horseracing operator claims channelisation rate could be as low as 68% in stark contrast to government target of 90%
An independent report conducted by horseracing operator ATG has revealed a significant increase in traffic to unlicensed operators in the Swedish market.
The report, which covers the time period between Q1 2019 and Q1 2024, estimates the value of Sweden’s unlicensed gaming market to be between SEK3.7bn and SEK7.4bn (£280m and £550m) every year.
ATG’s figures also showed that the channelisation rate in Sweden has fallen to an estimated range of 68% to 81%, far below the Swedish government’s aim of 90%.
Channelisation for online casinos ranged between 57% and 72% in ATG’s findings, while the figure for sports betting landed between 77% and 87%.
The report has also suggested visitor traffic to unlicensed sites has increased tenfold since 2019.
Those estimated rates fall well below the government’s aim of 90%, which was set following the market’s regulation in 2019.
Furthermore, seven of the 20 unlicensed sites, which ATG did not disclose, with the highest visitor numbers accepted direct deposits and withdrawals from Swedish bank accounts.
None of the 20 unlicenced sites appeared on the Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen’s banned list.
Hasse Lord Skarplöth, ATG CEO, said: “We must shut out the irresponsible unlicensed gambling companies at all costs.
“This development shows a deeply worrying trend where the unlicensed game continues to grow. This remains the biggest threat to those who have gambling problems.”
Back in April, Skarplöth suggested Sweden’s minister for financial markets Niklas Wykman had given his support to tackle the black-market operators in the country.