The review into the Swedish Gambling Act has resulted in proposals to further clamp down on unlicensed operators and the suppliers and affiliates that promote such platforms.
The government appointed Marcus Isgren as the lead investigator for the review in February, with the National Board for Consumer Disputes chair having submitted his findings this month.
Isgren suggested a shift from the current scope of the Gambling Act, which classifies unlicensed gambling as that which specifically targets Swedish consumers.
Currently, black market sites that only operate using the English language and allow for deposits in euros are exploiting a loophole in the regulations.
Isgren’s proposals would see the Gambling Act change from “directional criterion” to “participant criterion”.
Operators without a Swedish licence will be required to take active steps to exclude and prevent Swedish players from engaging with their offerings.
The research also suggested an expansion of the Gambling Act’s powers to sanction payment providers and affiliates that support and promote unlicensed operators.
These proposals will now be studied by the government, with a bill to be submitted to the Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, in due course.
Any amendments are expected to come into force on 1 January 2027. Sweden re-regulated its gambling market in 2019 and upped its GGR tax rate from 18% to 22% last summer.
Anna Johnson, Svenska Spel CEO, said: “The investigator’s proposals are long-awaited and welcome. We have long pointed out that the regulations regarding illegal gambling need to be tightened.
“It is about improved protection for consumers, but also about safeguarding confidence in the entire Swedish gambling market.
“DNS blocking of illegal gambling sites is a natural next step to move forward with. This would further strengthen the Swedish market as well as the protection of Swedish consumers.”
Gustaf Hoffstedt, general secretary of Sweden’s gambling trade body BOS, added: “This is an important contribution to the possibility of strengthening the Swedish gambling market, which is now proposed to criminalise almost all unlicensed gambling in Sweden.
“I foresee the government shortly submitting a bill to the Riksdag in accordance with the investigation’s proposal. Unlicensed gambling in Sweden must be smoked out.”
The post Unlicensed gambling loopholes to be closed following Swedish Gambling Act review first appeared on EGR Intel.
Government-sanctioned study which started in February finds need to further push back against black market operators and companies that support illegal operations
The post Unlicensed gambling loopholes to be closed following Swedish Gambling Act review first appeared on EGR Intel.