Swedish channeling decreases in 2020 as buyers migrate online

A report from the Swedish Finance Ministry has found that 85 % of gambling in the country during 2020 took place with operators licensed in Sweden, a decrease from the reported figure in 2019.

This represents a 20 % increase compared to the 2018 figures, as only 70 % of gambling was carried out in licensed Swedish suppliers-before the industry was re-regulated.

However, the figure has fallen from 90 % in 2019.

The state office believes the pandemic has banned customers from playing with licensed retail providers, so they instead had to gamble online with increased regularity.

Channeling was the lowest in online casinos, where the figure fell as low as 75 %.

In addition to COVID-19, the Ministry of Finance said that another reason for the change is that non-licensed websites are designed in the same way as the regulated channels, making it more difficult for customers to distinguish between the two.

«BOS emphasizes that there are gaming companies trying to circumvent the Swedish playing law by avoiding using Swedish as a language and Swedish currency, ”says a statement from the Ministry of Finance included in the report.

"But for many Swedes, playing in English and using other currencies is no problem."

Bos General Secretary Gustaf Hoffstedt said that the report confirms his organization, which has repeatedly warned of threats to channeling in the market and claimed that government figures can underestimate the threat to the black market.

"I hope that the state office's report can now put an end to the political proposals that the so -called channeling of the Swedish license system would be good."

“It is not, and the trend is still negative. We have felt quite alone about this remark, but hope for more support now that the state's own expert authority points to the same. "

Hoffstedt added that a combination of strict restrictions and lack of enforcement against unlicensed operators led to the decline. Last year, the country implemented a controversial, Mandatory deposit ceiling of 5,000 sec (£ 428 / $ 476 / $ 540) for online casino games, which - after an extension - will last until June. Before it was implemented, regulator signed up to BOS to warn that unlicensed operators may benefit from the roof.

"The increasing leak of the unlicensed gaming market is due to two things," he said. "On the one hand, the Swedish, licensed gaming market has been plagued by so many public limitations that players have been tired and to a greater extent sought their gaming experiences elsewhere."

On the other hand, the Gaming Act has so much deficiencies that unlicensed gaming companies in Sweden have been able to continue to offer their games to Swedish players without obstacle. This deviation must end.

Earlier today issued Gaming Inspectorate A termination order for BETMASTER and BONGO operator Reinvent to market himself against Swedish customers without a license.