The Swedish gambling authority updates its licensing requirements

Spelinspektionen, the Swedish gambling authority, announced several changes to its licensing requirements to protect every player in a more efficient way. According to the new provisions, any operator that doesn’t hold the appropriate license will be excluded from the Swedish betting market.

More specifically, every online bookmaker that operates in the country has from now on an obligation to offer transactions and pay winnings in the Swedish currency - the Swedish krona (SEK). Moreover, any information on a bookie’s website must be provided in the Swedish language. On top of that, all betting sites will need to be associated with payment service providers registered in Sweden, or offer payment options that are ‘exclusively or largely’ used by the Swedish public. At the same time, an e-identification system that is also used ‘exclusively or largely’ by Swedish bettors must be adopted.

If an international bookmaker is caught carrying out illegal gambling operations in the country; then Spelinspektionen will send a letter to the relevant national gaming authority informing that a gambling ban has been used against the bookmaker. The Swedish gambling authority has the right to intercede against betting companies using remarks, warnings, or licence cancellations under the country’s Gaming Act conditions.

A Spelinspektionen spokesperson stated: “In assessing whether it is justified to apply for payment blocking in an individual case, the Swedish gambling authority will therefore pay special attention to what measures the payment service providers can and intend to take voluntarily, without an injunction.”