Swedish monopoly association to welcome foreign operators under new leadership
SPER opens up membership to foreign operators with the appointment of a new chairman
Swedish gambling trade body SPER has appointed Anders Årbrandt, MD of the Swedish postcode lottery operator Novamedia Sverige AB, as its new chairman.
Årbrandt is the first person from a privately-owned operator to take the top job and marks the association’s move away from representing just monopoly firms.
He said SPER was expanding its membership to foreign and non-state-owned operators as Sweden prepares for regulation.
Årbrandt’s role will be to forge relationships with foreign operators that are planning to pick up a licence in Sweden once the market opens in 2019.
CEO of the association, Jenny Nilzon said: “With a reorganization of the gaming market in January 2019, these companies will be given the opportunity to apply for and obtain Swedish licences.
“We have many common challenges and hope that more people join SPER. In this way we can work for the industry to develop positively and sustainably with focus on the customer.”
Swedish payment provider Zimpler and game developer IGT were the first unlicensed suppliers to join SPER earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Sweden’s legislative council today published its comments on the forthcoming regulation, making way for the bill to be presented in parliament.