The Swedish Government has published the latest report from the Swedish Gambling Market Commission (Spelmarknadsutredningen), which proposes tighter restrictions on advertising and adding a permanent limit to casino deposits, among other things.
Social Democrat MP Anna-Lena Sörenson was tasked with leading the Swedish Gambling Market Commission, who also released a report of recommendations back in October on how horse racing and sports development programs should be regulated in the country.
Banning advertisements from 6 am to 9 pm
Following on from complaints of ‘aggressive advertising overexposure’ across Swedish broadcast channels, Sörenson went on to investigate how marketing for iGaming was being regulated. As such, the Swedish Gambling Market Commission now recommends the government ban advertising for casino games from 6 am to 9 pm every day.
“This has been a complex assignment that has touched on a large number of different issues linked to the gaming regulation, which in some cases have required difficult trade-offs,” explained Sörenson in her report. “I believe that the proposals we come up with today can both contribute to strengthening consumer protection and make regulation more appropriate.”
Preventing unlicensed operators from infiltrating the market
The Swedish Gambling Market Commission also suggested that Sweden should maintain its temporary weekly casino deposit limit. Furthermore, the report highlighted its concerns about unlicensed operators gaining access to the Swedish market. As such, it suggested that the government impose greater controls and penalties to stop these unlicensed companies.
“The Gambling Market Inquiry’s report will form an important basis for the Government’s forthcoming measures,” said Sweden’s Minister for Social Security, Ardalan Shekarabi. “It is both about shutting out gaming companies that do not have a license and ensuring that those who operate here with a license do so in a responsible manner.”
