Seven more CEOs sign petition to change Swedish casino deposit limits

Seven more CEOs from leading operators and suppliers in Sweden have signed a petition urging social security minister Ardalan Shekarabi to change strategy and protect the Swedish licensing system.

It follows the proposed introduction of new rules on 1 June, limiting consumer deposits for online gaming to SEK5,000 (approx. €440) per week.

The restriction was announced in late April by Minister Shekarabi in response to an increase in online gambling in the absence of sports betting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the chief executives of Betsson, Kindred Group, LeoVegas, NetEnt and William Hill to challenge the reasoning behind the new deposit limit, which they believe will drive consumers to more attractive unlicensed alternatives on the internet.

They have now been joined by another seven chief executives of operators and suppliers in the market; ComeOn Group’s Lahcene Merzoug, Suprnation’s Henric Andersson, Hero Gaming’s Tomas Bäckman, Videoslots’ Alexander Stevendahl, Quickspin’s Daniel Lindberg, Casumo’s Shelly Suter-Hadad, and Betway’s Anthony Werkman.

“My estimation is that the twelve gambling CEOs represent approximately half of the Swedish online gambling market,” said Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS). “It is crucial for the success of the licensing system and the safeguarding of costumer protection that Mr Shekarabi withdraws his additional measures towards the locally licensed operators.

“The licensing system is fragile and can’t endure further attacks from the Minister. He must do the opposite and safeguard the licensing system in the name of costumer protection.

“From our perspective as a trade body for the industry we now open up and invite all CEOs for gambling companies to sign the petition, being a member of us or not. Our only demand is that the company stands by the petition and if it is a B2C company that it holds a Swedish gambling license.”