Sweden market revenue flat year-on-year as fears grow over black market
H2 Gambling Capital estimates up to SEK2.8bn was generated outside of licensed system in 2020
Sweden’s licensed gambling market generated SEK24.7bn (£2.4bn) in revenue in 2020, representing a slight decrease from 2019 figures according to the latest data from the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA).
The majority of total market revenue was derived from the online gambling industry, which accounted for SEK15.2bn for the year.
Sweden’s state lottery and slot games represented SEK5.5bn, while games for public benefit accounted for SEK3.6bn.
Total market revenue for 2020 dropped 0.4% from 2019.
At the end of Q4 2020, more than 59,000 Swedes had self-excluded from online gambling services via the country’s Spelpaus register. By the beginning of March 2021, this number has increased to almost 61,000 people.
As of 1 March, 100 companies had active licences in Sweden, with 70 licensed for betting and/or online gambling.
Elsewhere, the SGA noted that according to H2 Gambling Capital, between SEK613m and SEK724m was generated by companies operating outside the Swedish-licensed environment in Q4 2020.
Extrapolating for last year as a whole, H2 Gambling Capital estimated that between SEK2.4bn and SEK2.8bn was being generated offshore.
In February, Sweden’s minister for social affairs, Ardalan Shekarabi, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to tackling black-market gambling sites but dismissed the need for further legislation to protect the licensed market.
The SGA calculates revenue by subtracting winnings paid out from players’ total bets