CASINO WITHOUT A LICENSE - GAMBLING RESTRICTIONS IN SWEDEN CONTINUE
Sweden's gambling market is in a phase where restrictions have become more important than gaming experience, but the players who did not accept this have turned the tide to casinos without a license. Is it really worth playing casino without a license at the site like https://casino-utan-svensk-licens.info/curacao-casino/ and how long will the gambling restrictions continue? In this article, let's take a closer look at the matter.
The government highlighted early on that the reregulation would give players solid protection against unhealthy gambling habits. Swedish gambling companies have generally followed the rules created by the Swedish Gambling Authority , but they have also had to adapt to the temporary rules created in connection with Covid-19. The gambling restrictions were meant as a short-term solution to counter excessive gambling during the social isolation but have not yet come to an end.
The consequence of the harsh restrictions was not unexpectedly a stronger advance for casinos without a license. What was called at an early stage to strengthen consumer protection unfortunately meant playing the market into the hands of the operators who offered games without a license to the Swedish players.
During the month of April, the Swedish Gambling Inspectorate received extended assignments from the government to review the Swedish gambling market, where the strengthening of consumer protection became one of the biggest priorities. On 11 June 2020, it was decided that a temporary regulation would apply from 2 July 2020 until 31 December of the same year.
The new regulation provided the following rules for online casino games:
Just over five months after the temporary rules were introduced, the government proposed an extension. Instead of eased gambling restrictions at the end of 2020, they would now apply until 30 June 2021. The Gambling Authority considered that an extension to the specified date was reasonable, and thus the gambling restrictions were extended to one year. But it did not end, because in April 2021 the government wanted further extensions of the gambling restrictions, which now apply until November 14, 2021.
There is no guarantee that gaming restrictions will end in mid-November 2021, but with the pace of the Covid-19 vaccination and fewer restrictions in general, the date feels reasonable.
A large percentage of Swedish players believe that there is an added value to playing at casinos without a license, because they get more bonuses and a better gaming experience. However, player protection may vary depending on the casino's gaming license. Today it is quite black and white regarding the quality of game licenses. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license is undoubtedly the strongest gaming license on the market. It is hard-tested and has been around since the early 2000s.
Under the MGA's licensing system, gaming companies are allowed to hand out as many bonuses as they want to their customers. Each welcome bonus is available for the brands offered by the companies. In other words, it is not like in the Swedish gaming market, where the welcome bonus only applies per gaming company. When the welcome bonus is used up, there are a number of other bonuses to choose from. Reload bonuses, cash back, free spins, super spins (higher free spins amount), bonuses without deposit, risk-free bonuses and competitions with cash draws are some of these. In addition, there are loyalty programs for all customers and VIP programs for major players.
Players who choose MGA-based casinos do not normally have to pay tax on winnings, but this also depends on whether the casino in question avoids marketing itself to the Swedish gaming market. However, there are players who are skeptical of the idea of using unlicensed casinos, and this is because player protection is said to be low. But is that true? The player protection is very similar to the Swedish one, but a fundamental difference is that the players do not set mandatory deposit limits or have access to Spelpaus . Otherwise, it offers loss and time limits, self-tests, help and suspension tools and independent support organizations. There is also customer service available 24/7 at most unlicensed casinos, but it is important to remember that it is English speaking.
It is not only the MGA that offers respectable casinos without a license. Curacao eGaming is another licensing system that players appreciate. In addition to large bonuses and a wide range of games, there are many casinos from Curacao that offer games with cryptocurrencies. However, it is important to remember that most casinos that have a Curacao eGaming license give tax on winnings, as Curacao is an area outside of Europe.
UKGC is short for United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Casinos from Great Britain are safe in many ways, but unfortunately they are not available for Swedish players. IP blocking is one of the most common ways for the UKGC to mark that Swedish players are not allowed to play in British casinos.
As the situation is right now, there are a large number of players in Sweden who are looking at a casino without a license. The government and the Gambling Authority have not found a good balance in the gambling restrictions, which continue to apply until November 14, 2021. If you look at what improvements could occur after the gambling restrictions, they are not many. In practice, the Swedish gambling market could go against the rules that apply in Great Britain, where there are indeed more bonus options, but where there are also many restrictions in the gambling products. Apart from the three-second rule for slots, there is also talk of limiting the stakes.
In other words, it looks as if the Swedish gaming market will continue to maintain a strict line with more restrictions, where the gaming experience is hit hard. Unlicensed casinos have no intention of restricting either bonuses or gaming products. And when it comes to the freedom of choice to set limits, they will probably remain optional for years to come.
Each player must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of Swedish and foreign casinos against each other. The choice of casino should be individually adapted and match the player's wishes. If a player believes that they want to play moderately and with certain restrictions, then Swedish casinos are of course an excellent choice. But for those players who want bonuses and fewer restrictions, unlicensed casinos continue to be the natural choice.
