The Swedish government has confirmed that its gambling regulatory body, Spelinspektionen, has been given more control over licensed companies. Therefore, as a result of the intervention, Spelinspektionen will be able to act directly when it deems necessary in cases of excessive betting.
Swedish regulator puts consumers in 1st place when it comes to betting
The government stated: “This decision represents an intensification of efforts against sports betting problems and strengthens consumer protection.”
Therefore, it improves the control and governance of the regulatory body, as it can now define the action plans of license holders with the aim of combating excessive gambling.
Therefore, from October 1st, Spelinspektionen will have the authority to modify licensees’ action plans. So this change is important to meet duty of care requirements.
Gambling Act
The Gambling Act (law that came into force on January 1, 2019 for all online betting activities) requires Swedish bookmakers to:
- Have an action plan that describes your procedures and protocols.
- Maintain care routines and encourage responsible gambling.
However, Spelinspektionen informed the government that its oversight revealed significant differences in how licensees’ action plans protect customers against excessive gambling.
In response, Spelinspektionen requested the power to set specific requirements for these action plans. She emphasized that “all license holders must clearly describe in their action plans their guidelines for gambling responsibility and how they should be implemented.”
The Minister for Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman, supporting the expansion of the entity’s powers, added: “There must be order in the gaming and sports betting market. The new requirement should lead to more detailed action plans.”
“In other words, it makes clear how gaming companies take responsibility for neutralizing gambling-related risks. This strengthens Spelinspektionen’s ability to prevent people from being affected by the negative aspects of gambling,” he concluded.
