Swedish regulator welcomes inquiry into gambling on credit

Spelinspektionen is in favour of new measures to prevent players from circumventing the existing ban.

Sweden.- The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has welcomed the launch of a government inquiry that aims to counteract over-indebtedness in Sweden. The inquiry includes proposed new rules to stop people from using credit to gamble. 

Gambling with credit is already banned in Sweden, but players find ways around the prohibition. The Swedish Consumer Agency has reported that sometimes players use a third party to provide payments by credit card or invoice. The new inquiry will last until May 3 2023 and may propose changes in legislation.

Spelinspektionen has recommended the introduction of penalties for those who breach the ban on offering gambling services on credit. It also asked the government to introduce credit reviews via a debt register and credit assessments in order to create a full picture of a customers’ debts.

The regulator said: “Spelinspektionen welcomes the government’s decision to appoint an inquiry to counteract over-indebtedness. It is Spelinspektionen’s task to work for a healthy and safe gaming market with strong consumer protection.”

Spelinspektionen has provided guidance to licensees on what constitutes gambling on credit, clarifying that some payment methods other than credit cards or loans are also considered credit.

Britain introduced a ban on the use of credit cards to gamble last year. Both Ireland’s new gambling bill and Northern Ireland’s gambling amendments have proposed introducing similar bans on gambling with credit cards.