The Swedish Online Gambling Trade Organization (BOS) has expressed its backing for stricter lending rules in the gaming industry. These suggested measures are principally intended to bolster player safeguards within the gambling market.
Representing a substantial portion of licensed gaming firms in Sweden, BOS concurs with the Justice Ministry’s recommendations to reinforce consumer protections and avert hazardous loaning practices that can result in compulsive gambling. They particularly endorse the proposition to broaden the prohibition on credit gambling to encompass outside lenders, effectively barring anyone from providing credit specifically for wagering.
Although the inquiry also contemplated prohibiting the use of credit cards for gaming, BOS contends this would be futile and could even advantage unlicensed providers.
Lastly, BOS advocates for establishing a national debt and credit database, known as the “Skri register,” which would furnish lenders with a more complete understanding of a person’s financial standing.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, the leading representative of the Swedish Online Gambling Trade Group, is advocating strongly for licensed gaming providers to gain entry to Sweden’s self-ban database, known as Spelpaus.se. He contends that this admittance is crucial for providers to effectively maintain responsible gaming practices.
While promoting broadened entry, Hoffstedt recognizes the necessity for a cautious balancing approach. He emphasizes the significance of a comprehensive integrity evaluation before granting wider admittance to the self-ban database, to guarantee the safeguarding of consumer confidentiality.
The Swedish Online Gambling Trade Group is also lending its support to more stringent punishments for money cleaning infractions within the gaming industry. They assert that such infractions should carry the same weight as those connected to gaming regulations. They even propose that punishments should be tied to a company’s total gaming income, adding a financial sting to the legal repercussions.
Notably, they highlight that Sweden’s online gaming channeling percentage, which shows the portion of gaming activity happening through licensed providers, presently stands at 77%. This falls below the government’s objective of 90%. Hoffstedt and the group are raising concerns about a possible increase in gaming tax, from 18% to 22% of gross gaming earnings. They contend that this could have adverse effects, driving players towards unregulated websites and weakening the advancements made in responsible gaming since the 2019 restructuring of the Swedish market.
