Sweden launches new regulation body

The country’s gambling monopoly launched a new trade association after the proposals to change the local scheme.

Sweden.- Sweden’s gambling association has been under the spotlight in the last couple of months after the government asked Hakan Hallstedt to investigate the possibility of ending the online gambling monopoly.

After the proposal to re-regulate the gambling market, both the Spelbranschens Riksorganisation (National Gaming Industry Organization) and the SPER (Games Industry Ethics Council) have decided to announce the creation of a new association to regulate Sweden’s industry. The new body is set to represent both land-based and online operators.

Last year, Copenhagen Economics informed the government that in order to shift from a monopoly to a system that represents multiple companies, both national and international, the government should attract international operators to apply for licenses in Sweden and online gamblers to become clients of the licensed sites.

This way, the monopoly operators are teaming up to fight against the private companies that are currently trying to end the exclusivity of Sweden’s market. It is still uncertain which topics and responsibilities will be in charge of the new body, but experts believe that the organisation will further its current position on advertising and regulatory issues.