Sweden extends unlicensed gaming investigation window
Inquiry on black market and match-fixing given additional brief to investigate potential increase in fines for AML violations
The Swedish government has extended the investigation period for a special inquiry into the twin issues of unlicensed gambling and match-fixing in the country’s online gambling market. The inquiry, which began in December 2020, was due to deliver its first report no later than 30 June, although this has now been extended by three months to 30 September. The inquiry is led by Swedish Chamber of Commerce Director Gunnar Larsson, who has been tasked with “identifying obstacles and proposing solutions” to enable more effective supervision of and enforcement against illegal operators. The investigation aims to comprehensively analyse the operational records, assigned duties and conditions of the relevant authorities in this area, including the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA). For example, Larsson is responsible for investigating the SGA’s claim that payment blocking of unlicensed operators would prove difficult to implement. Larsson has also been tasked with strengthening anti-match-fixing efforts through increased collaboration between sporting authorities and reviewing the work of the SGA’s anti-match-fixing council. Speaking about the extension, Swedish Minister for Social Affairs Ardalan Shekarabi said: “The current investigation will propose solutions to enable effective supervision of illegal gambling and strengthen the work against match-fixing. “These issues are of great importance for a sustainable gaming market. “It is therefore important that the investigator has enough time to develop well-elaborated proposals,” Shekarabi added. In addition to tackling illegal gambling and match-fixing, the inquiry has now also been tasked with investigating the need to adjust financial penalty fees for online gambling operators in breach of the Swedish Money Laundering Act. The addition comes after the SGA said a potential increase in the penalty for violating Swedish AML laws might be required due to the increasing number and size of violations being made by licensed operators.