Sweden is currently going through an unprecedented gaming boom
Sweden is currently going through a gaming boom that is unparalleled. Today, more Swedes than ever before play at online casinos or bet on sports online than ever before. But how did it happen that the growth was the way it was, and what does the future of the Swedish gaming market look like?
According to figures from Spelinspektionen, the authority responsible for the Swedish gambling market, today more Swedes than ever play at online casinos like https://utlandskacasino.net/. Although turnover has also risen marginally, it is nothing compared to the growth in the number of players. But it is not only the number of players that has increased, but so has the number of online casinos in Sweden. The number of casinos in 2022 that hold a Swedish license is over 200 and every month new players are added to the market. Below we will list some of the main reasons why growth has been so explosive.
During the 2010s, there was an enormous amount of Swedes who applied to foreign casinos. What was offered by Svenska Spel was often more than enough for those who were interested in betting on sports, but for those who wanted to play slot games or other things, it was usually only possible at foreign betting companies. Although it was legal then and is still fully permitted, the Swedish state got tired of losing billions in taxes.
The solution then was to simply regulate the Swedish gaming market and instead introduce a licensing system. On the first of January 2019, the new gambling law came into effect and already at the stroke of twelve several gambling companies opened their doors to Swedish players under a Swedish license. However, this does not mean that gambling companies can do as they please, but the Swedish regulatory framework for gambling companies is one of the absolute toughest in the world.
When certain industries were brought to their knees during the pandemic, the gambling companies did not suffer from the same problems, but instead saw an increased growth in visitors. Those lucky enough to be able to keep their jobs and work remotely often found themselves with a little extra money left over at the end of each month. When other types of entertainment and activities were more or less put on hold indefinitely, gambling at online casinos could act as a fun entertainment alternative. Many of these players then also continued to play after the pandemic was over, even if the turnover decreased slightly.
The future of the Swedish gambling market looks strong. Gambling contributes enormous sums to the national treasury every year, even though Swedish players do not actually pay any tax whatsoever on their winnings. But the government is also not completely satisfied with the outcome of the new gambling law and at the time of writing, a number of changes to the current law are being discussed. Among other things, it will make so-called aggressive advertising prohibited. One thing that becomes clear when you read through the proposal is that the government wants to continue to be able to offer games at betting companies outside of Swedish games, while at the same time wanting to reduce the negative impact that games have on society.
