Minister Ardalan Shekarabi today presented adjustments to the Government’s previous initiative on gambling related measures connected to the corona-19 crisis. 

The new suggestion from the Government is to exclude horse betting and sports betting  from the previously suggested deposit limit of 5.000 SEK per week.

– The new suggestion is impossible to understand from a consumer protection perspective. Since the first governmental suggestions were presented, we have received data from the Swedish Gambling Authority and the Swedish Tax Authority showing that online casino has not increased during covid-19, whereas horse betting has exploded. Against all rationality the Government now wants to exclude horse betting from further regulation whereas online casino shall receive further restrictions.

– It is obvious that the Government’s actions despite its rhetoric has nothing to do with consumer protection, but rather to do with an aim to provide benefits to gambling companies that is closely connected to the Government. Such as horse betting company ATG with a majority of its board members appointed by the Government.

– The Government is aware of the alarming low channelization for online casino, and it just doesn’t seem to care. It’s a huge loss for costumer protection in Sweden, Hoffstedt concludes.