SGA and BOS at loggerheads over reintroduction of deposit limits
Regulator and trade body offer opposing thoughts on Shekarabi’s returning SEK4,000 limit
The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) has thrown its weight behind the reintroducing of loss limits of SEK4,000 set to be enforced by the government.
Spearheaded by Minister for Social Security Ardalan Shekarabi, the new weekly deposit limit of SEK4,000 (£325.58) would be introduced from 7 February and end on 30 June.
The reintroduction of the limit mimics the measures put in place during the height of the pandemic which aimed to prevent gambling-related harm rising among Swedes stuck at home.
In a statement, the SGA said it had “no objections” to the reintroduction of the measures.
The SGA said: “The Swedish Gaming Inspectorate has no objections to the government reintroducing temporary liability measures similar to those previously in force [during the] pandemic.”
The SGA has also been requested by the Swedish government to file a report on the success of the measures which should be presented no later than 15 March 2022.
Conversely, the Swedish online gambling association BOS has slammed the proposals and argued strongly against reintroducing them.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS secretary general, said the return of deposit limits would lead to a fracturing of the market, with consumers forced to move between multiple operators.
Hoffstedt said: “The restrictions are detrimental to consumer protection. This is because they make it impossible for the gaming companies to live up to the statutory duty of care. This, in turn, is because the gaming market is becoming much more fragmented with the government’s proposal.
“The gaming consumer will be forced to gamble with a higher number of gambling companies than before, and this makes it difficult to create a comprehensive picture of the player, including any risky behaviors.
“Then it will be extremely difficult to offer support and help to players with addiction tendencies,” he added.
Hoffstedt also slammed the timetable for the proposed reintroduction of measures arguing that deposit limit changes can take operators between three and six months to introduce.
He said: “The new Covid restrictions for the gaming market were presented on 4 January. The last date to respond to the referral sent out is 17 January. The government is expected to make a decision on the issue on 20 or 27 January. According to the proposal, the restrictions will take effect on 7 February. It gives a time for implementation of at best a couple of weeks.
“If the new temporary restrictions are to be implemented – which BOS strongly opposes – we advocate at least a reasonable amount of time to enforce them,” he concluded.