Swedish Gambling Authority lowers channelisation estimates
Regulator claims new rate of 85-87% based on estimates from H2 Gambling Capital
The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) has lowered its estimate for channelisation the market, citing new figures from H2 Gambling Capital that put it at 85-87%.
The SGA said in September the rate was at 91%, but in a statement released alongside the market’s Q3 figures on Wednesday, the regulator appeared to backtrack.
“There is no actual information on how much is played at gaming companies without a Swedish licence,” the SGA said.
“H2 Gambling Capital estimates that during the third quarter of 2019, it was worth SEK 500 – 600m (after paid profits) from companies outside the Swedish licensing system.
“In this case, this would mean that between 85–87% of all gambling in the competitive market (online gambling and betting at international operators) took place at gaming companies with Swedish licenses.”
The comments come on the same day Swedish minister for Social Affairs, Ardalan Shekarabi, claimed a high channelisation rate was proof the Swedish regulation exercise had been a success.
Several operators have said the channelisation rate is much lower than 91%.
Elsewhere SGA revealed Q3 Swedish market revenues of SEK5,895m (£476m), down more than 3% compared to the previous quarter and down just under 1% from the first quarter of 2019.
BOS CEO Gustaf Hoffstedt took to Twitter to voice his calls for the Swedish government to address the issue of channelisation