Svenska Spel Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Gambling amid Privatization Debate

Svenska Spel, Sweden’s state-owned gambling operator, has posted a 93.9% healthy revenue share for the fourth quarter of 2024, retaining its positive Q3 results. For the full year, the operator recorded a 1.5% rise in its healthy revenue share, representing revenue from players who gamble responsibly and have a low risk of gambling issues.

The Operator Remains Committed to Consumer Safety

Svenska Spel evaluates healthy revenue via Playscan, an analytical tool that assesses gambling behavior. Playscan categorizes customers based on their gambling behavior and calculates the risk of problem gambling. Revenue from lower-risk customers is registered as healthy, giving the company a vital metric to measure the effectiveness of its gambling harm prevention measures.

Svenska Spel responsible gambling expert, Axel Lyckberg, emphasized the company’s proactive approach. He noted that the company tracks customer gambling behavior, contacting individuals who have crossed or are in danger of crossing over to harmful gambling behavior. President and CEO Anna Johnson likewise underlined Svenska Spel’s customer-focused approach and its recent achievements.

“Our responsible gambling measures are having a positive effect. We will continue our work to increase sustainable gambling and reduce revenue from customers who gamble in a way that can lead to problems.”

Anna Johnson, Svenska Spel president and CEO

Looking ahead, Svenska Spel plans to introduce additional consumer protection initiatives in 2025 to increase the proportion of healthy revenue further and reinforce responsible gambling practices. These initiatives are especially critical in light of a recent Spelinspektionen report that revealed an increase in gambling among young adults and minors, who are especially vulnerable to gambling harm.

Privatization Could Be on the Cards

Despite these recent successes, Svenska Spel faces rising criticism for its state-owned status. Gustaf Hoffstedt, head of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), recently reignited the controversy by urging the government to divest its stake in the company. He pointed to fines of more than SEK 100 million ($9.19 million) imposed by Spelinspektionen in 2024 and questioned Svenska Spel’s compliance record.

Hoffstedt contended that state ownership presents a conflict of interest and thus erodes public trust in the government’s role as an impartial regulator. He added that private operators could be equally well-equipped to maintain high ethical standards under a robust regulatory regime while avoiding the pitfalls of the current regime.
Sweden’s governing coalition has expressed support for privatizing Svenska Spel. As the debate continues, Svenska Spel’s dedication to responsible gaming stays at the forefront. Despite its shortcomings, the operator remains a leader in promoting sustainable gaming practices and mitigating gambling’s detrimental effects on society.