Swedish government submits draft gambling act to EU
Proposal focuses on consumer protection and combatting criminal activity in the industry
The Swedish government has submitted a draft gambling act and gambling tax act to the European Commission in preparation for market liberalisation in 2019.
Gambling minister Ardalan Shekarabi said the legislation would see government regain control of the gambling market and focus on consumer protection.
“Gambling activities must be conducted in a sound and safe way, subject to public supervision. This means gambling services must have a high level of consumer protection and safety, and that gambling services are not used to support criminal activities,” Shekarabi added
The proposal has also been submitted to the Council of Legislation, a Swedish parliamentary committee made up of former Supreme Court justices.
Swedish Riksdagen (parliament) building
Commenting on the move, chairman of Swedish trade body BOS, Gustaf Hoffstedt, said: “Sweden should naturally have reregulated its gambling market and implemented gambling licenses a long time ago.
“Unless we encounter no further obstacles, it still leaves us seven years behind our Danish neighbours.
“Hopefully, successful licensing systems in Sweden and Denmark can also inspire and pave the way for our Nordic neighbours in Norway, Finland and Iceland to choose the same path.”
The draft act aligns with the suggestions made in the independent report released in March.