The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has called on the country’s gambling regulator to speed up the approval process for new types of online casino games. BOS says delays in classifying these newer formats are slowing down innovation and pushing players toward unlicensed gambling websites.
Industry Frustration After Long Wait:
BOS represents 18 licensed gambling companies and game developers in Sweden. The group recently sent an official request to the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA), explaining how the lack of clear rules is making it hard to launch new games. BOS also shared its frustration that nearly a year of talks with the regulator hasn’t led to any clear decisions.
In its letter, BOS asked the SGA to clarify its stance on newer game types like crash games, video bingo, arcade-style gambling, and social live casino formats. These games mix regular gambling elements with video game features, which makes it unclear how they fit into current Swedish gambling laws.
Right now, many of these games are placed in a vague category called “other,” which BOS says leads to slow or inconsistent licensing decisions. This, they argue, puts Swedish-licensed companies at a disadvantage compared to foreign gambling sites. According to BOS, these new game types should already be covered under the existing rules.
“The pace of innovation in the gambling industry is high, and it is very important that the licensed gambling market can quickly offer consumers new, attractive games,” said Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS.
Hoffstedt added that he hopes the ongoing talks with the SGA will finally lead to clearer rules.
“We want new, attractive gambling products with regulatory certainty to be quickly included in the legal licence market,” he said.
Concerns About Fairness and Player Safety:
BOS also pointed out that this issue is about more than just business competition. A recent survey showed that 72% of Swedish gamblers can’t tell the difference between licensed and unlicensed websites. BOS says this makes it even more important for regulated operators to keep up with demand and offer the games people want.
When licensed companies can’t offer popular new games, BOS warns that players may turn to the black market instead. This goes against Sweden’s goal of keeping gambling within the legal market and puts players at risk since unlicensed sites may not follow the same safety standards.
To fix this, BOS has asked the SGA to confirm if these new game formats can fall under existing casino licences. They also want the regulator to publish clear FAQs to help operators better understand the approval process.
In a recent interview with Gambling Insider, Hoffstedt stressed that the balance between regulation and innovation is crucial. He said Europe needs both if it wants to stay competitive and protect players over the next 15 years.
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