BOS Denies Svenska Spel’s Proposal for Stricter iGaming Regulations

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has responded to Svenska Spel (Sweden’s state-owned gambling company)’s recent proposals for changes to the Swedish gambling market, disputing them and arguing that the new regulatory suggestions could lead to unintended consequences.

BOS Pushes Back Against Svenska Spel’s Proposal

Svenska Spel recently released a new report outlining 18 proposals aimed at enhancing gambling regulation in Sweden. The 42-page document, available on the company’s website, focuses on three key areas: improving protection for young people, combating illegal casinos, and implementing a risk classification system for games.

One of these points shows that the channeling of online gambling into Sweden’s regulated market has fallen short of the government’s target of 90%, standing at 85% instead. In response, Svenska Spel, which holds a monopoly on the lottery and operates as a regular player in the competitive iGaming market, submitted the proposals to the Swedish Gambling Authority. These suggestions aim to improve player protection, increase channelization, and tighten marketing regulations.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS, has shared his concerns about how these proposals could actually undermine channelization efforts and provide Svenska Spel with an unfair advantage over other regulated iGaming operators. In his response, Hoffstedt argues that the new risk classification system would disproportionately affect online casinos, a sector already facing intense competition from both legal and illegal operators, making the situation even more unfair.

BOS Warns of Unintended Consequences for Sweden’s Gambling Market

BOS argues that online casinos in Sweden are already facing some of the strictest regulations in Europe, a situation that has pushed many Swedish players toward unlicensed offshore platforms. The association contended that introducing additional rules would only worsen the problem, further diminishing the appeal of the licensed sector.

BOS drew comparisons with Denmark, where regulated gambling has surpassed 90% channelization without imposing excessive restrictions. According to the organization, the Danish model demonstrates that effective regulation relies on consumer appeal rather than heavy-handed enforcement.

The association also warned against policies like DNS blocking and payment bans, labeling them as ineffective deterrents that fail to change consumer behavior. Additionally, BOS suggested that Svenska Spel’s proposals aren’t solely focused on consumer protection. They pointed out that Svenska Spel uniquely operates in both monopoly and competitive sectors of Sweden’s gambling market, benefiting when restrictions tighten on private-sector competitors.

BOS raised concerns that these proposals could inadvertently disadvantage private operators, thereby strengthening Svenska Spel’s monopoly position in the lottery and land-based sectors. BOS emphasized that protecting consumers requires a balanced approach. This includes implementing strong safeguards without making licensed options so unappealing that players are driven to unregulated sites.