International online operators grow in Sweden

Whilst the national numbers remained flat during the first quarter, international operators in Sweden experienced a double digit increase.

Sweden.- The local gaming regulator of Sweden, Lotteriinspektionen, announced last week that  international online gambling operators that hold a license in the European country saw their profits increase by 13 percent year-on-year to US$143 million during the first quarter.

The three month period that ended on March 31 represent a 0.2 percent increase of the national market to US$617 million. Even if the number is significantly higher than the international operations, the growth has been almost non-existent. Svenska Spel, the state-owned gambling operator that accounted 40 percent of the entire market in the first nine months of 2016 and generated more than US$1.7 billion in revenue in the third quarter, reported a decrease in sales of 5 percent to US$247 million. Whilst land-based operations fell 9 percent year-on-year, online gambling grew 6 percent.

Back in April it was announced that the Spelbranschens Riksorganisation (National Gaming Industry Organisation) and the SPER (Games Industry Ethics Council) decided the creation of a new association to regulate Sweden’s industry. The new body is set to represent both land-based and online operators.

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.