Kindred Group Opposed the Decision to Prolong Casino Closure in Sweden
The Kindred Group opposed the Swedish government's decision to prolong limits on online gambling until June 2021, claiming that it does not protect players and instead supports offshore platforms. For the last few months problem gambling rates appeared somewhat unchained.
Limitations On The Gaming Act
Unibet and 32Red owner Kindred Group blasted a request by the Swedish government to prolong the limits on online gambling until June 30 next year. Owing to fears about illegal gambling after the COVID-19 pandemic, the new restrictions were enforced in July and were expected to expire by the end of 2020.
Earlier this month, a report on imposing limitations was sent by the Swedish government until next June, and was up for consideration until November 23. The draft proposal of the Ministry of Finance released last July notes that the weekly deposit ceiling of SEK5,000 ($580.64) and the incentive limit of SEK100 will be extended until June 2021.
The Kindred Group said the extension proposal violates both the Gambling Act and the rules of Parliament, arguing that the government ignored evidence and did not justify its conclusions. The regulator has indicated that the extension would provide greater protection for players as the rise in positive cases could cause further online gambling activity.
Kindred reflected on Sweden's inability to move on the topic as the channeling rate has declined, meaning there is less legal gambling activity. It said it was "the most likely effect of the restriction." While the government had proposed a minimum online casino limit of 90%, the rate registered was 72 to 78% before the restrictions were enforced.
Kindred also said that there was no effort by the Swedish Legislature to persuade players to use licensed firms over unlicensed ones. CEO of the Kindred Group, Henrik Tjärnström, said:
”During these seven months that the restrictions have been in place, the Swedish government have not been taking any measures to determine the level of channelization, they have not accounted for any measures against unlicensed operators in Sweden, and they cannot present any notable connections between the pandemic and increased problem gambling in Sweden at licensed Swedish operators”
Unchanged Casino Tips
Despite the decrease in gambling crime in the region, according to Svenska Spel, a state-owned gambling company, problem gambling rates remain reasonably unchanged.
Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, had originally sided with the gaming companies, but said it now supports the extension.
The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, Branscheforenigen för Onlinespel (BOS), slammed the extension scheme, arguing that the temporary limits only help offshore sites and do not protect players, particularly because most unlicensed operators provide near zero player protection.
Operator LeoVegas said Swedish gambling authorities should begin sending notices to unlicensed casinos, blocking transfers and IP addresses as well. It also recommended that tax authorities concentrate on players who gamble high on offshore platforms.
The Kindred Group claimed in its statement:
“The government has two means to increase the share of gambling that are under Swedish control: to create fair conditions for gambling customers to choose to play at licensed operators and to make the access to play at unlicensed operators more difficult. The government does neither.”
