As a push to strengthen consumer protection, Spelinspektionen will now require more detailed action plans for responsible gambling from purveyors of betting activities. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Under sweeping new changes from the Swedish government, gambling regulator Spelinspektionen will now require more detailed action plans for responsible gambling from purveyors of betting activities. The changes come as part of a push to strengthen consumer protection and are set to become active on October 1. Under the changes, Spelinspektionen will be empowered to manage gambling operators to counter excessive play through certain requirements of their action plans.

As of now, the content of action plans often varies across operators. The requirement from the Swedish Gambling Act only stipulates that Swedish licensed-gambling companies “discourage excessive gambling on an individual level,” but the content has no standardized requirements across operators.

problem gambling can be more effectively combated through a more regimented approach

The Swedish government issued new regulations, empowering Spelinspektionen to outline specific requirements for each operator’s action plan, believing that problem gambling can be more effectively combated through a more regimented approach. As reported by iGB, the new requirements will compel operators to outline their responsible gambling guidelines, as well as to provide clarity on how exactly they will be implemented.

Sweden’s Minister of Financial Markets Niklas Wykman said: “The new requirement should lead to more detailed action plans so that it becomes clear how the gambling companies take their responsibility to counteract risks related to gambling. This strengthens the Swedish Gambling Authority’s ability to prevent people from being affected by the negative aspects of gambling.”

The request for specified requirements on operator action plans came as part of proposals in February. The proposals additionally authorized the government to impose a blanket ban on all credit-type gambling transactions. The blanket credit-type ban is expected to become effective from April 1, 2025.