The government of Sweden has granted additional powers to the Gambling Inspectorate, Spelinspektionen, to intervene directly in cases of ‘excessive online gambling.’
The government announced that the Inspectorate would be allowed to set individual “requirements on the content of license holders’ action plans to counter excessive gambling.”
This measure was described as a ‘sharper tool’ for Spelinspektionen to ensure that operators maintain consistent online safeguards, protections, and customer care duties for gambling consumers.
“This decision represents a tightening of efforts against gambling problems and strengthens consumer protection.”
Effective from October 1, the Inspectorate will be permitted to change or modify the action plans of individual licensees concerning duty of care requirements.
Under the terms of the Gambling Act, Swedish online gambling operators are required to maintain an action plan outlining their duty of care procedures, protocols, and routines to inform authorities.
However, the Inspectorate previously reported to the government that its supervisory work had revealed significant variations in how different licensees’ action plans addressed the protection of customers from excessive gambling.
As a result, the Inspectorate sought changes to be “empowered to set specific requirements for the content of the action plans.”
Spelinspektionen noted: “It is desirable that all license holders clearly describe in their action plans their guidelines for gambling responsibility and how these are to be implemented.”
The request for direct intervention on action plans was included as part of memorandum Fi2024/00442,which authorised the government to impose a blanket ban on all credit-type gambling transactions from April 1, 2025.
New provisions will be adopted under the Gambling Act, banning all credit-related transactions, including loan agreements, overdraft facilities, and deferred payments.
In granting the Inspectorate new powers, Minister of Financial Markets Niklas Wykman stated: “There must be order in the gaming market. The new requirement should lead to more detailed action plans, making it clear how gambling companies take responsibility for counteracting gambling-related risks.”
“This strengthens Spelinspektionen’s ability to prevent people from being affected by the negative aspects of gambling.”
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