Could Sweden be Edging Towards Legalization?

The pendulum may finally be swinging towards more liberal online gambling laws in Sweden if recent rumblings are anything to go by.

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Swedish Online Market Grows

First up the Research Institute of Industrial Economics published statistics last month showing that 26% of Sweden's gambling market is now online. The research group also advised the Swedish government to address the current gambling monopoly in order to provide enhanced consumer protection.

Online gambling continues its popularity in Sweden, with Svenska Spel reporting a 2.7% year-on-year increase for the first quarter of 2011 for their net gaming revenues, totaling SEK 2.4bn (€269.9m). These figures buck the trend of online poker in Sweden which has fallen 9% to SEK 58m (€6.5m).

Christian Democrats U-Turn

Another indicator that times may be a-changing is the about-turn of the Christian Democrats. Previously staunch supporters of the gambling monopoly they are now favoring discussion on legalization. This appears to be due to their acknowledgement not only of the amount of online gambling already taking place at international online casinos, poker rooms and gaming sites but also of the lack of customer protection in an unregulated market.

Said Christian Democrat Cultural Policy spokesman, Andreas Carlsson, "The most important thing for the Christian Democrats is the responsibility taken (by betting companies) for the gamblers; that they take some social responsibility. This can be lacking if you let in private operators to a market without control and who take no responsibility for those who bet with them."

The Christian Democrats must also recognize that the estimated figure of one million Swedish online gamblers visiting foreign sites could be converted into Kronor's spent on Swedish sites. This would have the added benefit of the Swedish government receiving a significant new channel of tax income.

Winds of Change?

The momentum seems to be growing for the Swedish government to bring Sweden into line with other European countries and provide security and control in a regulated online gambling market.