Spelinspektionen’s director-general, Camilla Rosenberg, has expressed her approval of proposed changes to Swedish law aimed at enhancing consumer protections. The modifications are part of a series of planned amendments to the Swedish Gambling Act and have been submitted to the government’s legislative council for review. If approved, they would take effect from April 1, 2024.
One of the key changes involves the requirement for operators to obtain written approval in advance from customers for telephone-based gaming. Additionally, providers would have access to personal data related to customers’ finances and health, enabling them to prevent excessive gambling.
In addition to these measures, the government office that supports Sweden’s lawmakers, known as Regeringskansliet, has announced other changes to the Gambling Act. One significant change is the imposition of higher fines on gaming companies that violate the country’s Money Laundering Act, providing a more robust deterrent against criminal activity.
Rosenberg welcomed these proposed changes, stating that they enable further measures to strengthen the regulation of the gaming market. She also commended the government for considering the Gambling Authority’s recommendation to raise the sanction ceiling for violations of the Money Laundering Act.
Meanwhile, recent figures indicate that the growth of Sweden’s gambling market has leveled off. Gross gaming revenue from licensed operators in the third quarter amounted to SEK6.7 billion, a 0.6% decrease compared to the previous year and remaining flat compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Furthermore, the number of individuals registered for Spelinspektionen’s voluntary self-exclusion scheme, Spelpaus.se, saw a 4% increase by the end of the third quarter, reaching 99,000 registrations. These figures provide insight into the state of the Swedish gambling market and the steps being taken to address consumer protections and regulatory compliance.