Several markets remove covid-19 restrictions – Sweden are doing the opposite

Authorities in Spain and the UK are now choosing to remove the temporary covid-19 restrictions. The restrictions on these markets were introduced two months ago and were linked to the marketing of games. In Sweden, new restrictions are now being introduced instead.

“These are examples of two regulated markets where authorities and players in the gaming market work together to achieve a sustainable and healthy gaming market in the long term. The fact that both Spain and the UK now return to the normal regulatory framework is in line with how the outside world relieves previous restrictions in connection with covid-19. We now also see that many sports competitions are resumed, and the football leagues start again,” says Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO.

“Unfortunately, despite criticism from several directions, Sweden is moving in the opposite direction and facing temporary restrictions. There is a great risk that this will erode Swedish regulation even more. Copenhagen School of Economics has carried out an independent report which indicates that the black market can amount to as much as 50 percent when introduced. It is far from the authorities’ goal that wants to limit the black market to 10 percent“, Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO continues.

Spain
Spain has for a time introduced a temporary marketing ban on gambling.

UK
For a period of six weeks, the largest gaming companies in the UK (those that are BGC (The Betting and Gaming Council) members) have voluntarily opted to restrict advertising on TV and radio to only feature a safer gambling message rather than promote their products. Advertising restrictions are now being lifted, however there is still a voluntary agreement for operators to dedicate a minimum of 20 percent of their advertising on TV and radio to safer gambling throughout the period up to and including 31 August 2020.

Sweden into temporary restrictions
As of July 2, Sweden will impose temporary restrictions on, among other things, online casinos that extend until the turn of the year 2020. The restrictions include a deposit limit of SEK 5,000 per week and licensees, and only one bonus, in the form of a welcome bonus, which may amount to a maximum of SEK 100.

Responsible Gaming
Regardless of the world situation and business cycle, LeoVegas puts its customers’ safety first. LeoVegas works with several customer tools that are used in the form of setting deposit and loss limits. The company actively helps customers with this and continuously informs them about playing responsibly. In a digital world, everything is measurable and LeoVegas works proactively, using algorithms, to detect trends in unhealthy behaviour at an early stage – before gambling becomes a problem. During the covid-19 period, LeoVegas see no tendencies for problem gambling to increase.

“The Swedish Gambling Authority notes that Spelberoendegruppen (the Gaming Addiction Group) has not noticed any change in the number of contacts and the Spelberoendes förening (the Gaming Addict’s Association) notes an increase in people who state trot as a source of problem gambling,” concludes Gustaf Hagman.