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The Swedish iGaming Industry in 2030: The Experts Predict the Future

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It has now been five years since Sweden re-regulated its online casino market. In this qualitative study, Jonas Virtanen at Slotsoo interviewed people with different roles in the industry. From a researcher, an operator and an affiliate, to a writer and a veteran player. Here is how the experts think the Swedish iGaming Market will look like in 2030.

The participants in the study:
*         Romix Limited – Casino Operator
*         Anders Nilsson – Gambling Researcher
*         Pelle Rylander – Veteran Player
*         Johan Hansson – Expert Writer
*         Maria Johnsson – Affiliate Marketer

The participants were selected to get as wide perspective from Sweden’s iGaming industry as possible. The study, Den Svenska Spelbranschen 2030, was conducted in Swedish and the interview questions were sent out via e-mail in May. The selected were given one month to answer and the participation rate for the study was 35%. Here is a translated version of the study for the international audience.

The Channelization Rate Highly Dependent on Government Actions

The industry agrees that the government’s actions is what will affect the channelization rate the most. Although opinions differ regarding what direction the development will go.

The casino operator Romix Limited says that everything depends on whether licensed operators will be given the opportunity to compete under the same conditions as operators without the Swedish license. By easing the requirements for casinos with a license and giving the Spelinspektionen more muscle to fight unlicensed alternatives, the state can get more and more players to stick to the local license.

Some respondents such as the writer Johan Hansson are optimistic that this will happen. He highlights that it will always be easier to play on Swedish casinos, thanks to familiar payment methods and Swedish-language support, and therefore believes that the channelization rate will be at least 80% in 2030.

Game researcher Anders Nilsson points out that there are two different ways of calculating the degree of channelization (turnover or people) and that it is important to distinguish between them in discussions. According to him, there will always be people who want to play at foreign casinos but with the right strategy there can be a marginal improvement.

Other respondents believe that it is more likely that gambling at casinos without a Swedish license will increase in the next seven years. This is how Pelle Rylander, who has been an active casino player for many years, answers:

“The fact that about 75% play at Swedish licensed casinos is said to be because they choose safety over bonuses and loyalty programs, which I think is pure propaganda from the state. Were Mr Green, Betsson and the others less reliable when their license was from Malta? When people realize that ‘unlicensed’ casinos are as safe as the Swedish ones, more and more people will turn to them.”

The Majority Believe that Sweden Will Have More Relaxed Bonus Rules in 2030

Only gambling researcher Anders Nilsson believes that Sweden will not let go of its bonus restriction (one bonus per player per license holder). Maria Johnsson, Johan Hansson and Pelle Rylander instead predict that the state will have to relax the rules in order to keep the players.

Romix Limited, which operates Betinia, Campobet and YoYo Casino, is critical of the current limitation of ‘one bonus per license’. The rule is not good for the gaming experience and causes Swedes to search for new sites. Since this bonus restriction does not exist in other countries, it also gives foreign sites a big advantage.

Many players are also unaware that the limit applies per license holder and the operator often receives complaints from disappointed customers who thought they could get a welcome bonus per site despite the company being clear about the limitation in its bonus terms.

Romix Limited is asking politicians and decision-makers to review the bonus restrictions and develop a continued responsible, but less restrictive, model. More bonuses, with reasonable restrictions on, for example, wagering requirements would improve the players’ experience.

Johan Hansson goes along the same lines and reminds that not all casino bonus types are equal from a responsible gambling perspective:

“It’s not the bonuses that create gambling addiction, it’s the VIP and loyalty programs. It would be good to review the system so that Swedish casinos have the opportunity to offer more deposit bonuses but not based on how much you played for. I think we will see more bonuses in 2030 to keep Swedish players on the Swedish market.”

The Swedish Casino Drought Is Predicted to Continue

It has been a long time since Sweden saw new casinos being launched and the respondents agree that this drought will continue. Johan Hansson does not believe that there will be any significant difference in the number of licensed gambling companies before there are relaxations in the bonus rules.

Pelle Rylander predicts that the number of casinos will decrease slightly around New Year’s when many of the operators’ licenses expire. He guesses that in 2030 there will only be 45 to 50 operators left (in June of 2023 the number was 57). Maria Johnsson follows a similar train of thought and mentions that so far only one new casino has been launched in 2023 and that was from Svenska Spel.

Romix Limited sees two trends that even out the numbers. On one hand, more and more operators choose to obtain separate licenses for their various casino sites. But on the other hand, there is a continued consolidation of the gambling market happening through mergers and acquisitions while the fierce competition is forcing some players to leave the market.

Anders Nilsson also does not believe that many completely new players will appear, either on the operator or supplier front, precisely because of today’s competitive situation with some very strong players.

The industry is sceptical of the new license requirement for game providers, which the government introduced with the aim of making unlicensed casinos less attractive. Johan Hansson believes that it could have the opposite effect in case many game providers choose to skip Sweden in the future. Maria Johnsson also predicts possible loopholes to escape the requirement:

“It all depends on how well Spelinspektionen will ensure that the rules are followed and how far the Swedish law’s tentacles extend to foreign casinos that do not target the Swedish market. Perhaps game providers will create separate subsidiaries so that they can continue to offer everyone’s favorite games abroad without having to fear sanctions.”

The Sale of Svenska Spel Is Unlikely but Not Impossible

The industry has long pressured the state to sell Svenska Spel’s online casino and sports betting division. The mood ahead of 2030 is cautiously hopeful among the study participants. Romix Limited mentions that everything is for sale at the right price but that there will not be a deal in the near future given that Svenska Spel delivers a steady income to its owners.

Pelle Rylander also believes that the state will stick to its cash cow. He replies that a sale seems remote given that in the Spring they launched the new brand Momang casino. Maria Johnsson agrees and believes that Svenska Spel will maintain its position as number one for many years to come.

Johan Hansson believes that it is problematic for the state to run its own online casino operation at the same time that they are legislators and rule makers. He therefore believes that Svenska Spel will sell its competitive operations before the end of the decade. Anders Nilsson believes that much depends on the winners in the next general election:

“Whether parts of Svenska Spel are sold or not depends largely on political priorities. It is, after all, a profitable state-owned company whose income must then be taken from somewhere else. If the current constellation continues even after the next election, it is probably not at all impossible that it will be sold.”

The Industry’s Final Warning: Don’t Regulate the Market Too Hard

In the study’s final open question, the interviewed were allowed to come up with free speculations about how the gaming industry will change by the year 2030.

Anders Nilsson guesses that Spelinspektionen will be more eager to hand out fines in its fight to improve the channelization. He also believes that lawmakers will look more closely at affiliate advertising and other areas not currently covered by gambling laws. In addition, he mentions that in the future we will see more research based on actual data from the casino operators.

Maria Johnsson also believes that the gambling affiliate business will be put under the microscope in the coming years. Her prediction is also that LiveSpins will be launched in Sweden. (This new way of playing involves joining a live streamer’s game session and then you can spin slots and chat together).

Pelle Rylander speculates that the licensed gaming companies will find new ways to sneak around the bonus restrictions, similar to casino exclusive jackpots and free tournaments that some companies already offer today. He also believes that we will see artificial intelligence (AI) used to a greater extent to interpret and analyze player habits.

Johan Hansson, in turn, predicts that more rules will be introduced against AI. He also says that there is a risk that the state will regulate so hard that the companies choose to leave Sweden. Romix Limited has similar predictions and urges policy makers to think carefully before imposing even more restrictions:

“We would imagine that given the current, somewhat negative, political climate surrounding online gambling that can also be observed in other countries could lead to further restrictions being introduced. For example, when it comes to restrictions on the marketing of gambling. We do hope that policy makers will see the benefits of encouraging having an attractive, competitive and vibrant market that seeks to retain players within the safe and stable license system.”

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Pirate Multi Coins – Feature-rich New Title from Fantasma Games

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Slots players are taken on a swashbuckling adventure as they seek to unlock the Golden Chest in latest release from Fantasma Games

Pirate Multi Coins, a 6 reel, 5 position slot, is the latest title to hit the market from the Stockholm-based developer, Fantasma Games.

Golden Multi Coins are the key to unlocking big wins and features, with a random number of Coins appearing on each spin. Coins can hold either a monetary or multiplier value, and landing five on a spin awards all values shown.

In a break from standard slots, Pirate Multi Coins features no set paylines, with wins achieved when eight or more matching pay-symbols appear anywhere on the thirty-position matrix. Each win combines those symbols into another Coin, helping trigger the Multi Coin feature. The remaining spaces are filled by an Avalanche, which is Fantasma’s proprietary take on cascading reels.

Another air of suspense comes in the form of the Golden Chest at the top of the playing area. Any Coins landed during a spin which does not trigger the Multi Coin feature are added to the Golden Chest. The Golden Chest can trigger during any base-game spin where a coin is added to the chest, which rains more coins down upon the reels, guaranteeing a Multi Coin feature.

Finally, there is also a Free Spins feature, where landing four or more Scatter symbols awards fifteen free spins. Retriggers are also available during the feature, with three Scatters awarding five more free spins, and four Scatters awarding an additional fifteen spins!

Pirate Multi Coins comes with RTP options of 86%, 94.35% and 96.08%, sits at the medium range of the volatility scale and has a max win potential of 4999.x. It features a Scatter Boost option as well as a Bonus Buy for jurisdictions where this is applicable.

Fredrik Johansson, Founder and CEO of Fantasma Games, said: “In our first venture into the quintessential Pirate slot theme, Pirate Multi Coins brings a host of great features to all types of players.

“With multiple ways to trigger our various features as well as a medium level of volatility, we hope that it really appeals to every type of slots’ fan looking to find some buried treasure.

“Pirate Multi Coins takes to the high seas in thirty-four languages across our network of amazing operator partners on April 30th.”

 

 

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Casino Games

BetMGM is launched in the Netherlands, bringing an authentic Vegas experience to the Dutch market

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The golden Vegas offerings and entertainment of BetMGM is coming to the Netherlands, following a successful launch in the UK. BetMGM will offer a best-in-class Las Vegas experience to deliver a new golden era of online casino and sports betting in the Netherlands. Leveraging LeoVegas Group’s proprietary technology and platform, the launch marks a significant step in the brand’s international expansion.

BetMGM, the entertainment and sports brand known for its golden offerings and authentic Vegas experience, is launching in the Netherlands. The new brand is set to provide customers with exciting new product features, including large-scale jackpots, loyalty rewards, exclusive slots, as well as unique and compelling sports promotions. Utilising LeoVegas Group’s proprietary technology and platform, this expansion into the Dutch market represents the second European launch, succeeding a well-received rollout in the United Kingdom.

Gary Fritz, President of MGM Resorts International Interactive, said “We are thrilled to launch BetMGM in the Netherlands and build on BetMGM’s successful expansion into global markets. The Dutch market offers an exciting opportunity and will be an important part of our international expansion efforts and strategy to become a global gaming leader.”

Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO at LeoVegas Group, said “Our launch in the UK was tremendously successful, and we eagerly anticipate bringing the golden Vegas experience to the Netherlands. This launch in the Dutch market is an important step in our international expansion, but we have much more in store.

 

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New focus for safer gambling as Clarion confirms launch of Sustainable Gambling Zone

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The Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ), which since its launch at ICE 2018 has developed to become the highest profile feature on the ICE show floor has been re-branded to become the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ).
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The Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ), which since its launch at ICE 2018 has developed to become the highest profile feature on the ICE show floor has been re-branded to become the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ). 

The strategic decision has been taken following extensive stakeholder consultation and is set against the heightened importance placed on proactive customer interventions at earlier stages of the player journey.

The SGZ will be debuted at July’s iGB L!VE prior to its official launch at ICE 2025, the first edition of the industry’s most influential b2b gaming show to be held at its new home in Barcelona

Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight and Engagement, Ewa Bakun, who has seen the CPZ develop to become the key platform for the industry to advance its understanding and implementation of safer gambling measures and raise standards said: “I must stress that this is much more than just a cosmetic exercise. Instead, the Sustainable Gambling Zone, with its refreshed focus, will engage with the broader stakeholder group of operators who are focused on long-term sustainability, something which goes way beyond simply meeting the regulatory mandate.

“The overarching objective of the Sustainable Gambling Zone is to be at the vanguard of initiatives to help develop healthy play from the outset which includes the incorporation of safer gambling considerations from the very start rather than as a compliance requirement.

“While not yet standard across the whole of the industry, this more holistic approach underpins the safer gambling dynamic. Its goal is to create a more sustainable business in which players continue to enjoy their gambling entertainment experience with the small proportion who are at risk of developing problems pro-actively identified and assisted by operators.”

Clarion Gaming Managing Director, Stuart Hunter added: “The relocation to Barcelona will enable us to expand the ICE and iGB Affiliate offerings but also raise the bar in terms of what we already deliver on behalf of the international industry.

“The intended broader appeal of the Sustainable Gambling Zone dovetails with our relocation and will bring the SGZ closer geographically to continental Europe and closer culturally to the Latin American markets that we serve.

“Barcelona will open a new chapter for ICE/iGB Affiliate and their respective features, not least the Sustainable Gambling Zone.”

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