Sweden’s BOS Hits Out at Government’s Approach to Illegal Gambling

Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), the prominent online gambling trade association in Sweden, has hit out at the Swedish government’s policies to tackle illegal gambling in the country.

BOS alleges that the stringent restrictions on licensed gambling operators in the country will be counterproductive and trigger an increase in illegal gambling activities and sites eating into licensed operators’ market share.

“No one that has been paying attention to the political outbursts and the astronomical fines on licensed gambling companies can be surprised over this development. My assessment is that the reduction is part of a trend. Unless the Government takes forceful action to protect its own reregulation the channelization is likely to decrease further,” Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS said.

“To discuss marketing restrictions for licensed online casino operators in these circumstances, as well as prohibiting certain popular gambling objects shows that the government does not understand the gravity of the situation. Such restrictions would virtually mean giving away the Swedish gambling market to unlicensed operators. The government is currently acting as the best friend of the black and grey market and this needs to end,” Hoffstedt added.