Today The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) submits its opinion on the Gambling Market Inquiry’s report “Increased protection and strengthened regulation in the re-regulated gambling market”. BOS is positive to the inquiry’s proposal to not introduce levy fees for sports betting, and to introduce business to business licenses.

BOS is negative to the inquiry’s proposal to ban the marketing of online casinos between 06-21 on TV, radio and streaming media. BOS is also negative to the absence of proposals regarding a divestment of Svenska Spel’s competitive gambling operations.

– We defend the commercial freedom of expression in our response to the consultation and reject the proposal to ban marketing of online casinos between 06-21 on television, radio and streaming media. Marketing is the single most important tool for convincing Swedish gambling consumers to choose games within the Swedish licensing system. If the opportunity for Swedish-licensed companies to inform about their existence is removed, it will lead to even more gambling consumers choosing games on the black gambling market. This is already a major problem today – every fourth gambling krona is not played within the licensing system – and the leakage is expected to become even greater if the proposal is adopted. It would be a great loss for everyone who advocates for strong consumer protection on the gambling market, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.

– In our response to the consultation, we also call for a strategy for the divestment of Svenska Spel’s competitive gambling operations. We agree with the parties in the Swedish parliament that believe that the state should not act in the competitive gambling market like any other commercial gambling company. This damages confidence in the state’s ability to regulate the gambling market independently. It is now time to start planning for a divestment of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, Hoffstedt concludes.

Read BOS consultation response here