Unlicensed companies hurt operators in Sweden

Three months away from the country’s re-regulation to come into effect, legal operators continue to get hurt by unlicenced companies.

Sweden.- Sweden’s Lotteriinspektionen has revealed that unlicenced operators are making gains over the legally operating companies as the country’s re-regulation process is still three months away. According to the gambling regulator, licenced operators held 73% of the market’s €1.08 billion turnover for the first half of the year while unauthorised companies continue to experience gains.

“The long-term trend continues with the regulated market losing ground to the operators without a Swedish permit. This general trend is likely to continue for the next two quarters,” Lotteriinspektionen analyst Magnus Granlund told iGamingBusiness.com and said that unlicensed operators’ gains are expected to continue only until January.

“Marketing is expected to increase in the lead up to January, which could imply even stronger growth in GGR, especially for the operators without Swedish permit,” Mr Granlund added and explained: “It also shows the importance of a re-regulation of the Swedish gambling market with a new gambling law and a license system coming into force. The massive advertising for operators without Swedish permits also affects the outcome.”