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The next step after the privatization of “Bilprovningen”: sell Svenska Spel
It was with a clear message that Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) last week explained why the state is selling Bilprovningen, Sweden’s largest vehicle inspection company: “There is no obvious reason why the state should own this company. The state must first and foremost regulate and control this market, but it is good if others own,” she said.
The same can be said about the state-owned company in the gambling industry, Svenska Spel.
Bilprovningen and Svenska Spel belong to a handful of state holdings that are particularly unsuitable for the state to own, in that the state companies operate in a competitive market alongside a number of normal private companies, where the state has the role of regulating both its own company but also all others.
It is never a good idea to be a player and referee in the same match. No matter how much responsibility is distributed among various functions and authorities within the state, such an arrangement is set up to erode trust in the state’s role as a neutral judge. Is it the neutral judge we listen to when government officials speak, or is it the state casino director?
Having a state-owned company operating in an otherwise competitive market is by no means a guarantee that state-owned companies will perform better than private companies. This year alone, the fines issued to Svenska Spel by the Swedish Gambling Authority add up to over one hundred million kronor (€10M), for various violations of the Gambling Act. That’s more than any other gambling company on the market.
And it’s still not the big talking point of the year when it comes to scandals in the gambling industry. The big scandal has concerned a gambling company owned by a political party. Consider if a scandal of the same dignity affects a gambling company owned by the Swedish government. Every day with the state as owner of Svenska Spel, the government is exposed to this risk, e.g. with the illegal gambling advertising when Trisslotten is scratched on TV4.
Another unfortunate consequence when the state owns and operates companies on competitive markets is that the public debate about how gambling should be regulated is short-circuited, when Svenska Spel or their representatives take the floor and tell the government and the Riksdag how things should be regulated. The order in a democracy must be the other way around: it is the Riksdag and the government that have the mandate to say what Svenska Spel should do, not Svenska Spel that should give directives to the elected politicians.
The two heaviest parties in the government base in terms of the number of seats in the Riksdag – the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats – were very clear before the last election what they intended to do with Svenska Spel in the event of an election victory: privatize the state ownership. Instead, it was said, the government should concentrate on the role that only the state can have, namely, to be a legislator and to monitor that the market participants comply with laws and regulations.
The sale of AB Bilprovningen shows that the government is prepared to go from words to action, and there is no reason to wait any longer with the privatization of Svenska Spel. In fact, the state’s role as an impartial judge is probably even more important in the gambling market than in the car inspection industry.
Of course, a sale must take place according to all rules in order to get as much paid for the company as possible. The sale can then form an important basis for important government investments in, for example, infrastructure. It would be a sale we would all win from.
Gustaf Hoffstedt
Secretary General, BOS – The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling
The post The next step after the privatization of “Bilprovningen”: sell Svenska Spel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BETBY, a premium sportsbook provider, has released a major update to its esports portfolio, introducing an unmatched selection of new outrights and player prop markets. With these additions, BETBY now offers three times more outright options than the market average and a completely unique range of player-specific betting markets, setting a new standard for player engagement opportunities through esports content.
BETBY’s expanded outright offerings deliver diversity and unmatched depth in the industry. For instance when it comes to Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), bettors can now access markets that go beyond the standard winners and most played maps, with new betting markets such as Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), Magnum Sniper Rifle (AWP) Kill Comparisons, and numerous others now available. In Dota, unique markets like Most Popular Hero (Picks + Bans) and Hero with Highest Kill Death Assist (KDA) provide a more engaging and data-driven betting experience. These markets are updated throughout the entirety of tournaments, ensuring players can place bets during breaks occurring between game days or stages. The update extends beyond Dota and CS2, as BETBY now offers unique outright markets as well for games like Escape from Tarkov: Arena and Standoff 2 – content which is currently not being offered elsewhere in the esports landscape.
The second significant enhancement is the introduction of a much broader esports player props portfolio, which is entirely developed by BETBY’s team of expert traders. This allows players to place bets on individual performances across all S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier, and C-Tier tournaments for main esports disciplines, and not only on the occurrence of major events.
These additions further bolster BETBY’s esports portfolio, following a series of major updates that underline the company’s focus on innovation and its dedication to providing engaging content for its partners and their end-users.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of BETBY Games, commented: “We decided to accelerate the launch of new outrights and player prop markets for esports because we see a gap in the industry. We wanted to develop our own solutions and noticed that even though providers offer classic pre-tournament outrights, none of them provide continuously updated outrights when the events are in progress. Regarding player props, it’s relatively new content as part of our esports feed. If we talk about traditional sports, like soccer or basketball, it’s the standard for the industry. But I foresee that when it comes to esports it will as well be an absolute must-have in the future, with the performance and statistics of teams and players now becoming more widely available. Despite the fact that player props are not a new thing in the esports industry, these markets are offered only throughout top-tier tournaments and only for a limited number of teams. What we did was push this feature not only for top tournaments, but also B-Tier and C-Tier tournaments, whilst at the same time broadening player props coverage to a wider teams coverage.”
BETBY will be showcasing its premium sportsbook solutions and services at the upcoming ICE 2025 in Barcelona.
The post BETBY ENHANCES ESPORTS EXPERIENCE WITH EXPANDED OUTRIGHTS AND PLAYER PROPS PORTFOLIO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gamanza Games has announced the launch of its Arcade Casino Games portfolio in a third regulated European market within Q4, this time going live in Bulgaria. This milestone is made possible through an exciting partnership with inbet, a leading operator in the Bulgarian gaming market. The collaboration brings Gamanza’s unique and engaging games to a new audience, marking an important step in the company’s international growth.
Having already achieved significant success in the regulated Swiss market and more recently in the Netherlands, Gamanza’s diverse portfolio has gained a strong reputation for its originality and innovative mechanics. Now, Bulgarian players can experience the thrill of Gamanza’s games, which promise to deliver a fresh and dynamic dimension to the local market.
Robert Civill, Chief Commercial Officer of Gamanza said of Gamanza Games’s latest market launch: “This launch continues the momentum of our expansion plans, with another exciting regulated market launch in Bulgaria. We are really proud to be launching with InBet, our partnership has progressed incredibly smoothly, and the brand offers a reliable and strong environment for our games to flourish. Together we’re adding variety to the gaming experience with fun and original content that appeals to a large audience.”
Casino & CRM Manager at inbet, Vasil Todorov added, “We are thrilled to announce the integration of Gamanza’s outstanding game portfolio on the inbet website. This partnership introduces an exciting array of innovative games to our users, reinforcing our commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment experiences. With Gamanza’s cutting-edge content and inbet’s extensive reach, we look forward to captivating players and driving success together in the iGaming industry.”
The post Gamanza Games launches in Bulgaria with inbet partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Octoplay continues its rapid European expansion by going live with Sweden’s state-owned Svenska Spel Sport&Casino. This strategic partnership marks another milestone in Octoplay’s growth trajectory, bringing its innovative game portfolio to Svenska Spel Sport&Casino´s extensive player base.
The collaboration expands Octoplay’s reach in the Swedish market just months after its initial launch in the region. With active licenses in the UK, Sweden, Malta, Ontario, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Denmark, and Italy, Octoplay builds on its rapid growth across regulated markets. The company also recently kicked off its North American expansion by obtaining a provisional license in Michigan.
Octoplay’s sustained momentum in regulated markets is highlighted by partnerships with market leaders in each jurisdiction, including WilliamHill in the UK, BetMGM in Ontario, MicroGame in Italy, and Nike in Slovakia. These collaborations showcase the company’s popularity among major operators in regulated markets.
“Our partnership with Svenska Spel Sport&Casino represents a significant step in our expansion strategy,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, Director of Business Development at Octoplay. “By partnering with market leaders like Svenska Spel Sport&Casino, we continue our commitment to delivering high-quality gaming experiences to players across regulated markets.”
Niklas Örtbrant, Head of Online Casino at Svenska Spel Sport&Casino, adds: “The addition of Octoplay’s portfolio enhances our gaming offering, bringing innovative and engaging content that our players demand. Their track record in regulated markets and commitment to quality made this partnership a natural choice for us.”
The integration with Svenska Spel Sport&Casino underscores the growing demand for its premium gaming experiences. The company’s innovative portfolio has attracted significant attention from operators across Europe, driving Octoplay’s continued growth.
The post Octoplay Goes Live with Svenska Spel Sport&Casino, Expanding Swedish Presence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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