New Memorandum between Integrity body IBIA and Gambling Body BOS in Sweden Appears the Way Forward
Published November 26, 2020 by Lee R
The Swedish market is still in its infancy, and certain Corona-based limits need to be resolved out of the box.
An intriguing and innovative agreement to maintain ethical standards in Sweden has been signed between two major organisational players.
The Agreement
The agreement is a partnership between sports integrity body International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and Swedish Trade Association for online gambling Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS). The two will now cooperate on topics of mutual interest within the framework of Sweden's regulatory restrictions.
Agreement Goals
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will see the two groups look to resolve challenges that arise from regulatory changes in the Swedish jurisdiction's infancy.
The collaboration will pursue the dual goals of the promotion of effective betting as well as integrity provisions to maintain consumer channelisation.
BOS Leader Speaks
Of the new agreement, BOS secretary general Gustaf Hoffstedt established the national priority:
“A clean sport, free from corruption, is of utmost importance for the gambling industry in Sweden.
Hoffstedt further expressed his organisation's pleasure at “deepening” the collaboration with the IBIA, to keep sports betting “fun, safe, transparent and honest.”
IBIA CEO Speaks
IBIA spokesperson CEO Khalid Ali explained the strategic goal of his organisation's participation:
“IBIA members have faced a number of regulatory challenges in Sweden since its opening and the betting product restrictions set to be introduced at the start of 2021 will add further burdens, notably relative to unregulated offshore operators.”
Calling for Evidence-Based Rationales
Ali further asserts that these government restrictions could actually be destined to create problems than they solve, and called for the Swedish government to take an evidence-based approach to adapting the guidelines as needed. The new Memorandum of Understanding will help facilitate this adaptation.
The Potential Conflict
The latest development spurring the need for this Memorandum came last week when BOS publicly called on the Swedish government to reconsider the extension of coronavirus gambling restrictions into 2021. Specific limits which BOS took issue with include the maximum weekly deposit limits of SEK 5,000 ($579.46), introduced last July.
Hoffstedt called the decision unfortunate, calling it a double mistake when the government extends the restrictions based on “the same erroneous claims about increased online casino gambling.”
Outlook
With clouds already on the horizon as the Swedish market attempts to stabilize, it appears that effective communication between intermediary parties will be a vital source of facilitation.
