Operators unite to oppose Swedish deposit limit extension

William Hill and LeoVegas have come out in opposition of Swedish government proposals to extend temporary online gambling restrictions to July 2021. The operators are among the latest to respond to a government consultation on the proposals, which would see deposit and bonus limits enforced as a result of Covid-19 extended beyond the end of 2020 and into next year. Videoslots and Hero Gaming have also submitted a critical response to the measures. William Hill, which operates WilliamHill.se and Mr Green brand in Sweden, hit out at the proposals. “The current proposal, like the proposal presented this spring, is not based on facts but appears to be based on a prejudiced approach to the gaming industry where the long-term nature of the regulated gaming market is not taken into account,” wrote Hills. “The risks with this proposal are that the already failing licensing system is further weakened while strengthening the incentives for at-risk players to leave the licensed market benefit for operators without a Swedish licence. “It is our strong point perception that an extension of the restrictions contributes to a weakening consumer protection, which should be in direct contrast to the original purpose of the proposal,” Hills concluded. Malta-headquartered operator LeoVegas cited a Stockholm University study in its response which demonstrated a 13.3% drop in licensed gambling activity during the initial phase of the pandemic across all verticals, despite government claims that gambling activity would rise. “It can be stated that the foundations on which the Ministry of Finance bases the extension of the temporary regulations is questionable and hardly reflects the reality we are in,” LeoVegas wrote. “Against this background, a decision with such far-reaching consequences for both consumers, licensed gaming companies and authorities, must be questioned.” Detailing a counter-proposal, LeoVegas called on the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) to adopt IP and payment blocking of unlicensed operators. The firm also called on the Swedish government to introduce legislatory changes to prohibit unlicensed operators from targeting the market, as well as the licensing of B2B suppliers, white-label platform providers, affiliates and payment partners. Finally, the operator suggested bonus restrictions should be relaxed to encourage Swedish customers to come back to the licensed market.