Referral Fi2024/01087, Closing state casinos and a more effective money laundering supervision

BOS comments on the government’s closure of Casino Cosmopol, Sweden’s last remaining land-based casino:

“OK to close the state casino but at the same time open up for private initiatives”

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) today submits its opinion on the government’s initiative to close the last physical casino in Sweden, state-owned Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm.

BOS supports the proposal, agreeing with the government’s argument that governments should not operate casinos. At the same time, BOS believes that the government should allow private land-based casinos in Sweden. This is currently prohibited and is proposed by the government to be prohibited in the future as well. As a consequence, Sweden will therefore not have a single legal land-based casino in the near future.

“Land-based casinos play a very small role in terms of their turnover, but they still have a function in the overall ecosystem of the gambling market. In addition, they fulfill a function for Sweden as a tourist country and to deter illegal gambling clubs. We propose that the government, at the same time as they close their own government casino, open up for private companies to offer land-based casinos in Sweden”, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, BOS.

The government’s memorandum can be read in Swedish here: https://www.regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/departementsserien-och-promemorior/2024/05/avvecklande-av-statliga-kasinon-och-en-effektivare-penningvatttillsyn/

The BOS opinion statement can be read here:

1. It shall no longer be permitted to operate casinos in Sweden

The Ministry of Finance’s proposal: a) The gambling form gambling at a casino should no longer be included in the state gambling license type, b) Nor should any other license type be able to grant the right to provide gambling activities at a casino.

BOS approves proposal (a) and disapproves proposal (b).

2. The restriction on state lotteries should be removed

The Ministry of Finance’s proposal: There should be no special restrictions on the types of lotteries that may be provided with a state gambling license.

BOS disapproves the proposal.