New Swedish Gambling Legislation Awaiting EC Review

Sweden is getting a brand-new online gambling legislation, and although the European Commission’s review of the latest proposition won’t be finished until March 20, some details have already emerged.

Commenting on the new details, Mark Knighton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Obsidian Consultancy said under the provision of the new law online gambling and land-based betting license would be valid for a five-year period, and added bonuses would only be allowed the first time the players uses an operator’s product.

Blacklisting, Taxation, And Demonopolization

Knighton stated this was quite contrary to the initial proposal, which had allowed retention bonuses, albeit with certain restrictions.

The new law will allow the Swedish Gambling Authority Lotteriinspektionen to instruct a court to order payment providers to block payments from those companies operating without a license.

When it comes to taxation the current proposal suggests a tax rate of 18% of gross gaming revenue. Special focus is on responsible gambling: players will be obliged to set deposit limits, while licensees will be required to take all the necessary measures needed to prevent problem gambling.

The new legislation will effectively end the monopoly of the state-owned and operated Svenska Spel. The company will be split into two individual firms – one of them will compete in the country’s online gambling market, while the other will become the lottery operator.

Taking Back The Control

Sweden’s minister for public administration Ardalan Shekarabi said the central government would regain control of the domestic gambling market. Shekarabi stated the government was proposing legislation entailing that operator targeting Swedish consumers needed to comply with Swedish rule, which would give authorities the tools to keep those without a license out.

He explained that the new gambling regulations would be designed as a licensing system in which all operators providing gambling services in the Swedish market would be required to have a license, while those without one would not be allowed provide services to consumers.

The minister added gambling activities needed to be conducted in a sound and safe way, with a high level of consumer protection and safety.

The license applying is scheduled to begin in July this year, while new legislation is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2019.