The Swedish government shouldn’t be very hard on licensed operator
In recent weeks and months in the direction of Sweden there have been a lot of critical comments, and the implementation of a number of time constraints on online gaming has been censured by many circles.
Operators have called these limits “counterproductive,” saying they have every chance to contribute to the rise of troubled gambling across the country.
Gustav Hagman, president and CEO of LeoVegas, mourning on the pretext of last month’s venue conclusions, said: “As a consequence, it is worth noting that Sweden, ignoring global criticism from most areas, has moved in a revolving direction and introduced fresh, short-term limits that came into force on July 2, in particular with regard to online casinos.
“There is a greater risk that these limits, introduced entirely without the help of factual data, undermine the Swedish adjustment system and direct players to firms without Swedish licenses, where there is no defense of players.
Actions taking place in the market must freeze the main focus for the track “The Future of the Games” in the proper week at the SBC Summit Barcelona – Digital, on the 4th and final day of which will flow “The Fallout from Sweden”.
“The criticism was righteous, as it shows, for example, that the government’s short-term impact on the gambling industry was not only counterproductive, but also based on guesswork that turned out to be false,” said Gustaf Hoffstedt, general secretary of the Swedish Internet Gambling Trade Association, about the events that preceded his role in the event.
“Government impacts have led to the introduction of restrictions on online casinos, with claims that the actual number of online casinos has increased rapidly due to COVID-19 and the domestic seat. It turned out that this is not the case, but the measures have all been used in the same way, and as a result deserve criticism.
“I think that by the end of the year we will see once or twice the license returns”.
Adding to this our own thoughts on whether we can begin to see how the licensed operators will soon leave the area, and the bazaar turned out to be strict because of the rules and generally accepted measures: “The legislation as such is actually quite good. The discrepancy is that we actually have a happy government that wants to add fresh layers to the legislation. The fresh layers are so numerous that the regulation that we have now stands out strongly from the regulation that was introduced in January last year.
“This has caused great unpredictability for district licensed operators, while unlicensed operators seem to get along well in this environment. I think that by the end of the year we’ll see one or two license return options, first of all niche operators targeting online casinos”.
On Friday September 11th at 11:30 – 12:10 CET there will be a flyout from Sweden, Hoffstedt will be joined by Fintan Costello, Managing Director of Bonus Finder, and Morten Ronde, Managing Director of Nordic Gaming, among others.
Continuing to consider how it is possible for the commission to meet, Hoffstedt has examined how lawmakers have a better chance than any other to navigate the boundaries between securing players and the regulation that potentially guides them to unregulated markets: “Think about and accept that precedent, the actual buyer, not industry or government, decides whether the games will be played within or outside the licensing system.
As a consequence, government should not be very tough on licensed operators, because it is their responsibility to attract players to the licensing system. Politicians and regulators are inclined to overestimate the meaning of repressive measures (IP blocking, payment blocking, etc.) and underestimate the importance of creating an offer within the licensing system that the buyer finds attractive.
Before that, than to slow down on the main lessons that can be learned from the scenario adopted in Sweden: “The need for strength and predictability. We were pleased with the fresh adjustment, but did not take the necessary interest in the fact that the government immediately began to replace the fundamental parts of this adjustment.
“When a government appeals to a branch for support and assistance, the branch must respond positively, but at the same time urge strength and predictability.
More detailed information covering the agenda, an absolute list of 200 speakers and a list of 100 virtual exhibitors is available on the official website of SBC Summit Barcelona – Digital.
