Svenska Spel pledges SEK42m to support Swedish responsible gambling research
Donation will be given to the firm’s independent research council over the next five years to further explore preventative measures into gambling-related harm
Svenska Spel has announced it will give an additional SEK42m (£3.3m) to its independent research council over the next five years to support further responsible gambling research.
The latest pledge from the firm follows its existing SEK60m spend since 2010 when the council was established, with the aim of increasing knowledge and insight into gambling problems and how best to prevent them.
The new SEK42m funding will be split across five years through to 2027, with Svenska Spel donating SEK8.5m each year.
The funding will also support Anders Håkansson’s gaming professorship at Lund University, with SEK25m of the overall pot being earmarked for research grants.
Sara Lindholm, chairwoman of the research council, said: “Social community efforts and addiction care need the right tools at the right time. The long-term investment in research on gambling contributes to knowledge of effective methods for preventing and treating gambling addiction.
“Developing the right interventions for those who need it most requires patience, commitment and research at the forefront,” she added.
Patrik Hofbauer, CEO and president of Svenska Spel, added: “The research council has been a driving force and a central part in establishing the research field around gambling problems in Sweden.
“There are still many unanswered questions about how best to prevent and treat gambling addiction. With that in mind, our continued support feels right both from a business and a humanitarian perspective.”
This move comes just a couple of months after the former monopoly operator published its Responsible Gambling Report 2022, which found that 37% of customers surveyed had reduced their overall gambling after receiving calls from its responsible gambling service.