Sweden shifts focus towards online gambling reform

As more and more countries seek to crack down on online gambling regulation, Sweden has become the latest to do so as the Scandinavian state looks to take control of the increasingly popular market in its country.

This is in a bid to put an end to problem gambling and tackle the causes, with more safeguards to be implemented.

With a primary emphasis on the protection of customers who visit online gambling sites, authorities are also keen to block illegal players from gaining entry to those that are still available.

 

Proposals submitted for implementation

In an attempt to motivate a swift transition, the country’s minister for social insurance, Ardalan Shekarabi has drawn up a number of proposals, with a series of suggestions designed to ensure a more long term, sustainable approach.

Shekarabi revealed: “We are now taking the next step to regain control of the Swedish gaming market.

“It is both about limiting aggressive gaming advertising and stopping gaming companies that do not have a license. Strengthened gambling regulation is a prerequisite for strong protection for consumers.”

Each proposal has been lodged with the law council, with a particular leaning towards prohibiting the advertisement of illegal gambling, in addition to a further ban on the marketing of unlicensed companies.

A crackdown on the policing of underage gambling has also been raised, with tighter measures set to be implemented that make sure that companies have verification in place.

 

Changes likely to be enforced from 2023

Despite the apparent urgency for such measures to be implemented, these are likely to come as late as 12 months from now, with a complete overhaul of the entire Swedish online gambling industry understood to be in the offing.

Sweden is not the only European country to enforce tighter online gambling restrictions recently. In October last year, the Netherlands launched its regulated market, overnight becoming one of the most scrutinised markets in Europe, with significant restrictions in place in addition to a number of rules that companies have to adhere to for being granted a license.

This could well have a domino effect, particularly across northern Europe as more and more countries look to overhaul the industry and make sure that they can effectively safeguard against the dangers to vulnerable people.