Casino in Sweden - a new landscape for gambling

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Few have probably missed the new gambling law that was established in the country at the beginning of 2019. The law changed the gambling monopoly in Sweden and particularly affected online casinos and gambling companies with foreign licenses operating in the country. Now half a year has passed since the law came into force and we at the editorial office have taken a closer look at the impact the new legislation has had on online gaming operators. At https://allascasino.net/  you can see which Swedish casinos are currently recommended.

New Swedish law for games with money

It was on January 1 earlier this year (2019) that the new Swedish gambling law came into force. The purpose of the legislation was, among other things, to promote a healthier gaming climate online and to gain greater control over the actors who market themselves to Swedish players. Among other things, the law means that operators who operate games with money online need to apply for a special gaming license from the Gambling Authority, and get this granted, in order to legally operate games online.

Furthermore, the legislation includes clear guidelines regarding how operators may market themselves to Swedish players, and requires active work for responsible and healthy online gambling. For example, all Swedish casinos must provide information and contact details to the Helpline, as well as offer functions for stopping play and tests where the player can gain insight into their gambling habits. This is to counteract gambling-related problems in connection with casinos and online betting.

This is how operators and players have been affected

Now the new gambling law with its associated sections has been up and running for just over half a year, and big effects are already visible in the industry. A certain centralization of the online gaming market has taken place, as far from all actors who applied for a license received such an approval. This means that a number of casinos and sportsbooks that were previously active have disappeared, which makes the range of gaming portals somewhat narrower for the player. So far, only around 80 licenses have been approved by the Gambling Authority. It should be added that several of the licensed companies run the majority of different brands under them, which thus makes the number of active gaming sites significantly more than that.

If we look further at the sanctions and punishments handed out, we can see that a lot has happened. Close to one hundred million kroner have been distributed in penalty fees to online casinos and sportsbooks that in one way or another violated the legislation. In addition, a large player has been forced to shut down its operations completely, as the Gambling Inspectorate considered that the law had been broken on several points. Among other things, it has involved incorrect marketing of bonuses and ignorance of the requirements for responsible gambling.

For the player, one can imagine that the legislation mainly had positive effects. Some have surely noticed that slightly fewer casino bonuses and offers are provided after licensing is required. The range of gaming operators is also somewhat more limited than before, as an effect of the centralization mentioned earlier. Overall, however, the changes in practice have had a positive effect on the player's path, mainly thanks to a clear focus on safe and healthy gambling. The fact that the companies now need to present rules and conditions and market themselves in a more clear and concrete way also makes the gaming experience more user-friendly as a whole. That every active casino in Sweden now has a Swedish license also certifies consistently high quality, something that leaves less room for concern, for example around deposits and withdrawals.

Future prospects for the Swedish gaming landscape

So what does the future look like for the changing gaming landscape in Sweden? When players and operators get used to the changes, we believe that there are really good conditions for a positive and constantly developing gaming climate. We believe that the year 2020 will be significantly calmer in terms of sanctions, as a practice has now been established for the law. Several operators have pointed out that some of the rules were somewhat unclear and difficult to apply, which of course was problematic. Once these question marks have been straightened out, the minor storm that blew up properly in 2019 should level off.

Furthermore, we believe in a continued healthy gaming landscape where the player's well-being and gaming experience are put first. Then you mustn't forget that it is the joy of playing that should be central!