BOS implores Sweden's authorities to remove restrictions to improve channelisation

The Swedish online gambling association, Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), has welcomed an investigation into match-fixing and unlicensed operators in the country but has called for more support for licensed operators.

The investigation, led by director general of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Gunnar Larsson and Ministry of Finance, aims to find solutions into how to tackle match-fixing and improve channelisation in the Nordic country.

While BOS said the investigation was necessary, with match-fixing reports in Sweden some of the highest in Europe and channelisation rates having fallen, more was needed to be done to support licensed firms.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS secretary general, said: “BOS welcomes the initiative taken by the government with regard to the fight against match-fixing as well as the defence of the Swedish licensing system and its channelling.

“As far as we know, not a single unlicensed gaming company with its representatives has been the subject of any court proceedings in Sweden.

“No house searches have taken place. And the established penalty scales for unlicensed gambling have not been used once,” he added.

However, Hoffstedt implored the authorities to allow licensed firms to attempt to attract new customers so as to return the channelisation rate to the state’s target of above 90%.

He said: “Conditions were there when the licensing system was introduced, but have time and time again been torn apart by the government and its authorities. Examples of such destruction are the recurring pandemic restrictions and the reduction of the types of sports betting that are permitted for licensed companies.”

The pandemic restrictions Hoffstedt refers to include the deposit and bonus limits implemented last year, which are set to make a return in February.

Spearheaded by Minister for Social Security Ardalan Shekarabi, the new weekly loss limit of SEK4,000 (£325.58) would be introduced from 7 February and end on 30 June.

Speaking on the need to improve channelisation, Hoffstedt added: “Sweden will never be able to bring back the market shares that have been lost to the illegal gaming market unless something is also done about the conditions for the law-abiding licensed gambling companies.

“These companies must be given better opportunities to attract gambling customers to the legal gambling market, and therefore, for example, deposit limits and marketing restrictions proposed by the government must be rejected.”