Sweden’s Trade Association for Online Gambling, known as BOS, has called on regulator Spelinspektionen to reconsider several of its proposed gambling regulatory changes.
The appeal was made through a letter sent to SBC News by Gustaf Hoffstedt, who serves as Secretary General of BOS, outlining the association’s concerns in detail.
Hoffstedt made clear that BOS is not opposed to Spelinspektionen’s overall direction, acknowledging the regulator’s proactive stance on modernising Sweden’s responsible gambling framework.
The association also welcomed efforts to update the country’s broader tech infrastructure as part of the regulatory overhaul currently being pursued by Spelinspektionen.
However, BOS raised concerns that certain draft provisions within the proposals are ambiguous in their phrasing and require significant clarification before they can be effectively enforced.
The recommendations put forward by BOS centre on building greater clarity across the entire engagement chain between operators and players in the Swedish market.
One specific proposal from Spelinspektionen that drew attention involves a mandatory account suspension mechanism for operators under particular circumstances.
Under that proposal, a licensee would be required to suspend a player’s account when it cannot reliably confirm whether that player has received feedback regarding potentially harmful gambling behaviour.
BOS appears to support the spirit of such protective measures but suggests the precise language and operational requirements need to be tightened considerably before implementation.
The association’s intervention reflects ongoing tensions between Sweden’s licensed gambling industry and its regulatory body as the country continues refining its gambling laws.
Sweden has been working to strengthen its responsible gambling infrastructure since re-regulating its market, and Spelinspektionen has taken an increasingly active role in driving that agenda forward.
BOS represents a significant portion of the Swedish online gambling industry and has consistently engaged with regulatory consultations to shape policy outcomes in the market.
The call to return to the drawing board signals that meaningful dialogue between the industry and Spelinspektionen will be necessary before any new provisions can be finalised and brought into force.
