Swedish charity calls for more safeguards on gambling

Spelberoendegruppen, which provides gambling addiction support services, has called on the government to introduce broader safeguards to protect consumers.

Sweden.- The non-profit organisation Spelberoendegruppen has called for the Swedish government to introduce “wider safeguards” on gambling.

Omid Rezvani, the charity’s chairman, told Sveriges Television (SVT) that it was concerned about the marketing of online slots and the risk of gambling addicts accessing “quick SMS loans to continue gambling”.

Rezvani stated these were the most serious concerns voiced by gambling addicts taking part in Spelberoendegruppen’s group support meetings.

See also: Survey shows rise in use of unlicensed gaming sites in Sweden

The Swedish government has planned to reevaluate law on gambling advertising and standards in Sweden’s reformed Gaming Act as the second stage of the government’s update of regulations on gambling, which has been informed by the country’s Gambling Market Inquiry, which was led by Social Democrat MP Anna-Lena Sörenson.

However, the implementation of that may be held up due to political upheaval in the country.

Rezvani said Spelberoendegruppen want more restrictions on slots advertising but said the Gambling Market Inquiry had missed its opportunity to examine SMS loans taken out for gambling.

He pressed for the government to take direct action to exclude all access to quick loans by players registered on Spelpaus, Sweden’s gambling self-exclusion register. 

See also: ATG stops accepting non-Swedish player registrations