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BOS op-ed: “Svenska Spel’s betting company must be sold by the state”

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Dagens Nyheter – Sweden’s largest morning paper – today published an op-ed signed Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling. Hoffstedt is urging the government to sell the betting and online casino part of the governmental gambling operator Svenska Spel.

We are pleased to bring you the English version of the editorial which you can read in full below:

Sell Svenska Spel

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Since 2019, Sweden has had a licensing system for gambling companies. Anyone who wants to operate in the Swedish gambling market must have a state license. As of 2019, there are two types of gambling markets; partly a monopoly that mainly offers lotteries, for example, the popular Trisslotten. In this market, private profitmaking gambling companies are not allowed to operate. Partly a commercial competitive gambling market that mainly offers online casinos and betting, for example betting on horses and football. In this market, private commercial gambling companies can apply for and be awarded a license to operate in the Swedish gambling market.

Through Svenska Spel, the state is active in both of these markets, but now the time has come to divest Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, i.e. the part of the company that is active in the commercial, competitive gambling market.

Around 70 gambling companies are fighting for market share in the part of the gambling market that is open to competition and offers online casinos as well as betting on horses, football, other sports, and even who will win the next parliamentary election or Schlagerfestivalen. One of these companies is stateowned: Svenska Spel. It is difficult to find arguments for continued government commercial involvement in that market.

Normally, the state usually engages in business activities when the market itself has failed, above all in terms of competition. There may be too few players in a market and the few that exist may have too dominant a position for competition to function. Then the state steps in as a commercial actor with the ambition of countering that market failure. However, no one who has followed developments in the Swedish gambling market can claim that there is too little competition between the 70 companies that operate in competitive gambling. Competition is fierce and would remain so even in the absence of the state as a commercial casino operator and bookmaker in betting.

Another argument for conducting stateowned commercial gambling activities could be a desire to act as an example for all other companies on the market, for example in not producing as much gambling advertising as the competitors. Anyone who has followed Svenska Spel’s marketing since the reregulation knows, however, that the company is one of Sweden’s largest advertisers in all categories, i.e. including gambling but also other large advertising buyers such as grocers and car manufacturers. Svenska Spel’s extensive advertising purchases rather force the private gambling companies to make larger advertising purchases on their part than would otherwise have been the case.

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“A stateowned gambling company that operates in direct competition with others is, in principle, like any other gambling company,” says the government investigation from 2017, which was the basis for the Swedish reregulation of the gambling market. That’s exactly how it is; Svenska Spel Sport & Casino has exactly the same license as other gambling companies. They follow exactly the same responsible gambling regulations, and they do it no better or worse than their competitors. They pay exactly the same gambling tax as all other gambling companies. Therefore, the logical consequence already became apparent to the Gambling License Investigation six years ago: “The conclusion is, according to the investigation, that the best alternative would be to divest the competition part.” [A reregulated gaming market, SOU 2017:30, p. 34]

So the only remaining question is why hasn’t the company been sold yet?

Perhaps an argument for keeping the company under state auspices could be its return to the state. But the idea is of course not for the company to be liquidated, but on the contrary to be sold to the highest bidder and then continue to be run, albeit privately. With the same requirement to pay gambling tax.

Not entirely surprisingly, there is a classic division here between political parties on the right and the left. Parties on the left view positively that the state owns companies and runs businesses, while parties on the right do not. This is also the case in this matter, and before the reregulation, the center-right parties had to waive stricter demands for the divestment of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino in order for the Social Democratled government to agree to introduce the gambling license system we have today.

Now that time is over and we have a new government, which together with the Sweden Democrats forms a majority in the Riksdag. The moderates have long advocated a divestment of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, as have the Sweden Democrats. The voters who have given the center-right parties the power to rule Sweden have very reasonable expectations that the government will now move from words to action.

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This is really nothing new for a center-right government. The last time Sweden had such a government, it concluded that the fact that the Swedish state had then become one of the world’s largest producers of alcohol was not in line with the government’s idea of what a state should do. Thus Vin & Sprit AB was sold in 2008, with the Absolut brand, for 55 billion kronor to France’s Pernod Ricard, which still runs the business for the benefit of Scanian grain farmers, among others.

It is now high time that our own contemporary anomaly, the state’s role as a casino operator and bookmaker, found an end. And unlike the longawaited introduction of gambling licenses, which took place at the initiative of the Social Democrats, it would be desirable for this to happen during a center-right wing government in power. What else should it have the power for, if not to implement what it said in opposition it wanted to do?

Gustaf Hoffstedt
Secretary General, The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling

[Gustaf Hoffstedt is among the speakers of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit which will be held between 29-30 March 2023. More details about the summit can be found here.]

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Casino Kings Knocks Out Partnership with Boxing Powerhouse BoxNation

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Two titans of entertainment are joining forces! UK-licensed casino and sportsbook, Casino Kings, and the legendary boxing platform, BoxNation, have announced a dynamic new partnership, set to deliver a knockout blow of exclusive content, promotions and responsible betting experiences for fans. Becoming their official boxing betting partner, Casino Kings is stepping into the ring with one of the most respected names in the fight game, promising fans a ringside seat to even better betting.

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The post Casino Kings Knocks Out Partnership with Boxing Powerhouse BoxNation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Helma Lodders Steps Down as Chair of VNLOK

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Helma Lodders, who has held the position of chair at the Licensed Dutch Online Gaming Providers (VNLOK) since its inception in 2021, has announced her decision to step down. Lodders’ term expires and she has chosen not to extend it. Current board member Björn Fuchs was unanimously elected as the new chair on the recommendation of the board. He will combine this role with his employment as Chief Digital Officer at Fair Play Casino.

In the run-up to the opening of the online gambling market, Lodders helped shape the trade association. Under her leadership, VNLOK has grown into a reliable discussion partner for politics, government, media and social organisations involved in gambling policy. In addition to representing the interests of the members, her efforts have also helped to place the extensive illegal gambling market high on the political and social agenda.

Helma Lodders said: “Since the establishment of VNLOK, I have fulfilled the role of chairman with pleasure. It was a period of political and social turbulence. At the same time, I have always kept the goal in mind; to work on a safe, reliable and controllable market with the right care for vulnerable players. Now that my term is ending, the time has come to pass the baton. I thank my fellow directors for the trust they have placed in me and have every confidence in Björn Fuchs as my successor.”

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Björn Fuchs said: “I regret the departure of Helma Lodders. The board is grateful for the way in which she has given substance to our association with her skills and strength in an honest manner. The board therefore expresses its appreciation for the efforts that Helma has made since the foundation.”

“I look forward to my new role as chairman of VNLOK with pride and confidence. I will get started with great enthusiasm and, together with the members, will commit myself to the importance of a well-regulated online gambling market,” Björn Fuchs said.

The post Helma Lodders Steps Down as Chair of VNLOK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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LeoVegas Group to Open a New Office in Leeds

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LeoVegas Group is opening a new city centre office in Leeds, UK. The move enables the Group to support the ongoing development of the Group’s brands such as BetMGM and LeoVegas, strengthening LeoVegas Group’s position in one of the industry’s most competitive markets.

This opening will mark LeoVegas Group’s second UK office, with Leeds supporting its Newcastle headquarters, which have been run by LeoVegas Group since 2018. With a strengthened presence in the UK, LeoVegas Group remains focused on creating the world’s greatest igaming experience.

The new office has undergone significant refurbishment, transforming it into one of Leeds’ most prestigious Grade A office buildings. LeoVegas Group will occupy the entire ground and lower ground floors of Tailor’s Corner, totalling 5000 sq. ft (over 400 m²). The space is currently being renovated to meet LeoVegas Group’s high standard requirements.

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Gethin Evans, Managing Director UK and Ireland at LeoVegas Group, said: “We’re looking forward to moving into our new Leeds office shortly. It’s an important step towards our key goal to continue building the strength of our hero brands in the UK, BetMGM and LeoVegas, by attracting top talent. Leeds will support our main office in Newcastle, which will continue to remain the UK heart of LeoVegas Group.”

LeoVegas Group has started its recruitment plans, with several roles already live, including a Senior UK Sports Director, Senior Finance Business Partner and Legal Counsel position.

The post LeoVegas Group to Open a New Office in Leeds appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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