Key Moments:
- Svenska Spel issued a 42-page report outlining 18 recommendations for enhanced gambling regulation in Sweden
- The report identifies young people and women as particularly at risk for gambling harm
- Proposals target stricter rules for online casinos, improved protection for vulnerable groups, and actions against unlicensed operators
Report Calls for Enhanced Regulatory Action
Svenska Spel, Sweden’s state-owned gambling company, has published an extensive new report presenting 18 recommendations aimed at tightening oversight and enforcement within the country’s gambling industry. The document, released this week, details a framework for restoring public trust in Sweden’s regulated gambling market, which remains in flux seven years after re-regulation efforts began.
Channelisation and Market Challenges Persist
Sweden’s market liberalization in 2019, which ended the state betting monopoly, was touted as a step forward for player protection and industry modernization. However, Svenska Spel’s report notes that regulatory aims have not been fully realized. While several new controls have been implemented since the change, they have not matched those in comparable jurisdictions. With channelisation remaining under 85%, a substantial portion of Swedish gamblers continues to use unlicensed sites, undermining regulatory intent.
Youth and Women Face Unique Gambling Risks
The report underscores emerging dangers affecting younger consumers, notably through lootboxes, skin betting, and exposure to unregulated content via platforms like Twitch and Kick. These activities are seen as blurring the distinction between entertainment gaming and real-money wagering, exposing minors and young adults to riskier behaviors.
In addition, Svenska Spel’s analysis shows that the trajectory of gambling-related harm differs by gender. While men and women are attracted to different types of products, women may develop issues more rapidly and are more likely to experience concurrent problems. The company argues that regulators have not sufficiently addressed these gender-based distinctions, creating a gap in harm reduction strategies.
Leadership Perspective
Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel, stated:
“Seven years after the re-regulation, we are far from the goal of a safe gambling market. Young people and women are particularly vulnerable, and the growth is almost exclusively in high-risk games such as online casinos. It threatens both consumer protection and confidence in the regulated market. Therefore, with our report, we want to show that there are concrete and feasible solutions.”
Targeted Rules for Online Casino Operations
The report advocates for policy that imposes stricter marketing and operational standards specifically on online casino offerings, given their significantly higher risk profile. Instead of blanket rules across all verticals, Svenska Spel suggests tailoring restrictions to product type. This stance aligns with recent recommendations from another government review conducted by Marcus Isgren, which also pushed for more rigorous advertising rules for online casinos.
Pursuing a Secure and Enjoyable Market
Svenska Spel maintains that effective regulation should preserve the leisure aspects of gambling while safeguarding players over the long term. Johnson added:
“We know that games are a source of joy, excitement and community. But then the market must be secure and sustainable in the long term. Our proposals show that there is an opportunity to reverse the trend if industry, authorities and legislators act together.”
Regulatory Outlook
The newly unveiled proposals signal ongoing momentum and debate around gambling laws in Sweden. If adopted, these reforms could introduce stricter requirements for operators in areas such as payment processing, compliance monitoring, and advertising practices. Regulators now face the task of translating research and recommendations into practical policy. As both Svenska Spel and official inquiries promote tougher standards, the Swedish gambling sector is poised for potentially significant transformations ahead.
| Key Focus Areas | Proposed Actions |
|---|---|
| Protection of Young People | Specific measures targeting minors and young adults; tackling emerging threats like lootboxes and skin betting |
| Unlicensed Casino Operations | Enhanced enforcement and blocking of unregulated gambling providers |
| Risk-Based Classification | Creation of a system to assess and regulate games based on risk level |
| Gender-Specific Harm Reduction | Recognition of distinct harm patterns between men and women; introduction of targeted support mechanisms |
| Online Casino Regulation | Stricter marketing and product-specific restrictions for higher-risk verticals |
- Author
Daniel Williams
