Online Gambling Guide for Swedish Gamblers |
Posted: December 31, 2018 |
In 1997, came together to form Svenska Spel, the company that has monopolized Sweden’s gambling laws. Trav Och Galopp has also monopolized the horse racing sector. Basically, these two companies control all forms of casino games and sports betting. The European Union has criticized the monopolization of gambling activities in Sweden and foreign operators have not been successful in venturing into the fairly lucrative market. The Swedish government may eventually take some measures to liberalize this market. Gambling Legislation in Sweden In Sweden, brick-and-mortar casinos and gambling activities are still controlled by state-owned regulators. Moreover, Sweden’s gambling laws prohibit profit-making firms from reaching the gambling market, apart from almost insignificant entertainment games and restaurant casinos. Since the 1970s, profit-making firms in the private sector were denied access to the market. State-owned entities took over the industry promising to offer a secure gambling market and any money collected from this market is used for social or public purposes. Currently, the Lotteries Act (1994) regulates gambling activities in Sweden. It provides some basic definitions and differentiates skill games from lotteries. Types of Casinos and Casino Games According to Sweden’s gambling legislation, there are 2 types of casinos: restaurant casinos and international casinos. International casinos within the country’s borders are monitored and controlled by the Casino Act (1999). These casinos operate under international casino laws featuring huge prizes and bigger stakes. The Casino Act has reduced these casinos to a total of 6. Also, international casinos are regulated by state-owned institutions and obtain their licenses from the Government of Sweden.
International Casinos Currently, there are 4 international casinos in Sweden. These casinos are located in Malmo, Gothenburg, Stockholm, and Sundsvall. All of them are operated by Casino Cosmopol AB, which operates under Svenska Spel. Restaurant Casinos Restaurant casinos allow members of the public to enjoy card games, dice games, and roulette. Reports indicate that there are approximately 600 restaurant casinos in Sweden. These casinos operate under the Lotteries Act and must have a gambling license from the Swedish Gaming Board. The Board issues licenses for lotteries, card games, dice games, roulette, and gaming machines that are regulated by the Lotteries Act. Additionally, the Board ensures casino operators comply with the 2 dominant gambling laws. Slots, Horse Racing, and Sports Betting The Lotteries Act regulates all machine games including slot games but does not specify any specific horse racing laws. However, horse race betting is a legal activity according to section 45 and the Horse Racing Totalisator Board or ATG is the organization responsible for arranging horse race wagering. Sports betting is also treated as a separate activity and the Lotteries Act does not have any specific provisions for this form of betting. However, section 45 clearly states that sports betting is a legal activity. Svenska Spel is the institution responsible for organizing sports betting activities. Online Casinos If the Government of Sweden liberalizes the country’s online gambling industry, outlanders will be able to target the Swedish gambling market. In 2002, Trav och Galop and Svenska Spel were allowed to establish online gambling operations. They offer different types of games including poker, lotteries, sports betting, bingo, and other casino games. Due to pressures from the EU and other interested parties, Sweden’s government intends to license international operators to invest in the Swedish online gambling sector. In fact, Christian Democrats and other parties want to break the monopoly. From 1st January 2019 there are a wide range of operators offering casino games online such as Casinostugan, Casumo, BetHard and Ninja Casino.
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