Sweden: gaming operators set the record straight
Four of the largest gaming operators in Sweden have teamed up to launch a website providing statistics and other information about the national gambling market.
Sweden.- Betsson Group, LeoVegas, William Hill and Kindred Group have together launched a new website that aims to provide the public with statistics and other insights on gambling in the country.
The Fakta om spel (“Facts about Gaming”) site has been launched in collaboration with the Swedish online gaming operators’ association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS). It aims to set the record straight and dispel misconceptions about the industry.
BOS said the site would contribute to the debate on gambling with a fact-based approach. It said public knowledge about the national gaming market tended to be low and that the site will provide information about how the industry is regulated and what the licensing requirements are, among other themes.
The site is intended to provide independent information, including details of operators’ duty of care, research and reports and statistics on taxes and marketing.
It currently provides an overview of the Swedish gaming market covering its history, as well as information on the specific verticals: online casino, sports betting, poker and lottery. Statistics on the market’s financial performance are provided along with third-party reports and research.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS, said: “It is important that we have an open and free debate about the gaming market.
“The idea is that the site will be expanded over time and we would like to see more operators support Fakta om spel.
“We know that increased knowledge contributes to a healthier, safer and fairer gaming market by highlighting the benefits of a licensed market, but also pointing out the important challenges that the industry, authorities, politicians and suppliers need to focus on together.”
Court reduces Swedish regulator’s fines against two operators
The Court of Appeal in Jönköping has reduced penalties against Genesis Global and AG Communications to SEK1m (€95,500), less than half the original amount.
The Swedish national gambling regulator Spelinspektionen had issued fines against both companies for breaching the obligation for licensed operators to connect to Sweden’s self-exclusion tool Spelpaus. Genesis and Aspire’s AG Communications had carried out manual checks instead.
The breaches involved dated back to 2019, the year that Sweden’s licensed igaming market launched.
In another case, the Swedish Court of Appeal turned down Spelinspektionen’s request to appeal against the quashing of its injunction against Kindred’s Spooniker brand for breaching online casino deposit limits.
Meanwhile, the Swedish government has further extended its temporary restrictions on online casino gaming.
The temporary controls include a SEK5,000 (€490) monthly deposit limit for online casino slots. Players must also set limits on playing time on both online casinos and gaming machines, and operators cannot offer bonuses of more than SEK100.
