Swedish trade association claims regulated market “has failed miserably”
Sper says market has been unable to reach its goal of 90% channelisation that was set following re-regulation in January 2019
Sweden’s Gambling Industry Association (Sper) has made five recommendations to reduce unlicensed gambling and make the country’s gambling market safer for players.
In an opinion piece originally published on 4 November on news platform Dagens Industri, the Sper board made a damning assessment of the current Swedish gambling market.
The trade association claimed the country’s channelisation goal of 90% has “failed miserably”, while referencing an ATG independent report which put Sweden’s channelisation rate at between 57% and 72% for online casino and between 77% and 87% for sports betting. In September, Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, published a report that stated a channelisation rate of 86%.
Sper said the legislation has not kept up with industry developments, and claimed the current Gambling Act “does not prevent unlicensed operators from targeting Swedish players effectively”.
Pointing to how this can be remedied, the association called for a ban on unlicensed operators accepting Swedish players as well as options to block unlicensed sites – noting most EU countries have this capability.
Sper also recommended making Sweden’s self-exclusion register, Spelpaus, more robust and increasing resources for the support line through additional funding.
One “crucial” recommendation, according to Sper, is to ban payday loans for gambling, while the final suggestion is to create a ‘loan-stop’ register, which would “complement Spelpaus by making it harder for individuals to finance their gambling with quick loans”.
In a message aimed at the Swedish government, Sper stated: “It’s clear that current policies have failed to meet the goal of 90% channelisation.
“The ongoing issue of unlicensed gambling is not only a betrayal of consumers but also of the licensed operators that comply with Swedish laws and contribute to society.
“We in the gambling industry want a Swedish gambling market that is safer, healthier and more secure. We’ve put forth measures to achieve this.
“Now it’s time for the government to take responsibility, pick up the pace and take further action.”
Sper is chaired by ATG CEO Hans Lord Skarplöth. He works alongside members including Svenska Spel CEO Anna Johnson, former ComeOn Group board member Mikael Lövgren and Swedish Postcode Lottery managing director Anders Årbrandt.