The head of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has said he is confident there will be no tax hikes in the market in the immediate future.
Speaking to EGR, Gustaf Hoffstedt said that following meetings with the country’s Ministry of Finance, he was confident the 22% rate would remain in place for the time being.
Sweden upped its GGR tax rate from 18% to 22% in July 2024, with the duty increase covering all verticals in the Nordic nation.
There had been recent suggestions the government could increase the 22% rate to 26% in April this year as part of its Spring Budget.
The Spring Budget is due to be submitted to the Swedish parliament on 13 April.
The potential to increase the tax rate would mirror proposals laid out by former ATG CEO Hasse Lord Skarplöth.
Since the 22% rate was implemented, Skarplöth, who left ATG in February, said horseracing should be dropped to 18% and other verticals upped to 26%.
ATG holds the horseracing betting monopoly in Sweden.
However, trade body chief Hoffstedt said he was confident these proposals would not come to light in the Budget following his conversations with the government.
He said: “BOS has had meetings with government representatives for three days in a row.
“On Monday, we met with State Secretary Erik Eldhagen; on Tuesday with political adviser Sigrun Fagerfjäll; and yesterday, Wednesday, with the Minister for Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman; all of whom are affiliated with the Ministry of Finance.
“I can now state with satisfaction that there will be no tax increase during the remainder of this government’s term of office.
“However, the work of persuading the government, whichever government we have, not to raise taxes will not stop.
“Sweden is going to the polls in September this year and the new government also needs to be reminded of why it would be a bad idea to raise the gambling tax.”
The Swedish general election will be held on 13 September.
A right-wing coalition, led by the Moderate Party and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, forms the current government in Sweden.
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The post Swedish trade body chief confident on tax rate remaining at 22% first appeared on EGR Intel.
Gustaf Hoffstedt tells EGR conversations with government have suggested rumours of a hike to 26% being announced in the Spring Budget were wide of the mark
The post Swedish trade body chief confident on tax rate remaining at 22% first appeared on EGR Intel.