Swedish gambling regulator closes postcode lottery probe
The Swedish Consumer Agency has presented its review to the secretariat of the Consumer Ombudsman.
Sweden.- The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has announced the closure of its supervisory investigation into the Swedish Postcode Association. It will take no further action for now.
The regulator had initiated the supervision last year after the Swedish Consumer Agency began a review of the marketing methods used in telephone sales of lottery tickets. The Consumer Agency, which has the primary responsibility for examining whether the association’s marketing is in violation of the Marketing Act, has presented the matter to the secretariat of the Consumer Ombudsman (KO). If the KO proceeds with the case, it will be tried in court.
Spelinspektionen said that for now it has not been determined whether the Swedish Postcode Association violated the Marketing Act. As such, it will not proceed with its supervisory case. It said that if a violation is determined in the future, or if new circumstances come to light, it may initiate a new supervisory case.
Bingo hall inspections
Meanwhile, Spelinspektionen has completed a sweep of bingo halls in Sweden to check that licensees comply with the requirements for information that must be displayed. The inspection was carried out through site visits at four venues.
The venues inspected were Bingoföreningen Sverige, Idrottens bingo Linköping; Bingoföreningen Sverige, Bingoringen Karlskoga; Örebro Bingo Alliance Association, Bingo 8:an; and Norrköpings Bingoallians, Citybingo Norrköping
The regulator stressed that bingo operators must ensure the winnings plan is posted in the bingo hall in accordance with Chapter 6. Section 5, first paragraph, paragraph 1 of the Gambling Act (2018:1138). Venues must also ensure that the age limit is clearly stated on the venue in accordance with Chapter 14. Section 3 of the Gambling Act and that information for players is easily accessible as required under Chapter 14. Section 4 of the Gambling Act and Chapter 5. 1 § SIFS 2019:1.
For now, the regulator is assessing the findings and has not said whether it believes any interventions will be necessary
This week, Spelinspektionen named Johan Röhr as its future acting director general. He will lead the regulator on an interim basis following Camilla Rosenberg’s departure on November 1 and until a new director general is appointed.
Röhr is currently head of the legal department at Spelinspektionen. Before joining the gambling regulator, he worked in the Swedish justice system, including at the Court of Appeal in Stockholm.
In other news, the regulator has banned two more operators from targeting gambling at Swedish customers. The companies affected are Bitx Operations N.V. and Ryker B.V.
