Svenska Spel’s CEO backs sports betting ban

The CEO of the Swedish company Svenska Spel has revealed that he is in favour of a sports betting ban on selected markets.

Sweden.- Patrik Hofbauer, CEO of Svenska Spel, has revealed that he is in favour of a proposed crackdown on sports betting market. This measure is being considered by the local government as part of an attempt to improve the market.

Local media reported this week that Ardalan Shekarabi, Sweden’s social security minister, met with the Swedish Football Association and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. The associations were informed that the local regulator is set to propose a ban on bets influenced by individual players. These include yellow and red cards and corners.

Hofbauer agrees that certain markets are open to manipulation and that the proposed ban would be right. “Svenska Spel welcomes the minister’s message. It is common sense not to offer this kind of market,” he said. “Match-fixing is a problem for the sports and gaming industry already as it is and there is no reason for the gaming companies to make it easy for the match-fixers. This type of event is very easy to manipulate, because they do not depend on the entire team effort, but can be controlled by a single player.”

Hofbauer says Svenska Spel has been behind the sport on this issue

“It is a matter of course for us to work together against cheating and crime. Our customers should be able to feel confident that the matches they have played on are free from manipulation.”

Moreover, Hofbauer said that the message from the minister shows that Swedish politicians and legislators are serious about match-fixing. “If a ban is now proposed and introduced, it will be a historic victory for the sport and the gaming companies that want to offer games on the terms of the sport. If you want the Swedish gaming market to be healthy and secure, then you welcome this message,” he said.