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Gambling Tax Income Boosts The Swedish Economy

Published

5 years ago

September 11, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Swedish gambling licenses are notoriously strict – however this is for very good reason, and the state has been careful to make sure that all applicants and licensees follow the rules carefully. One of the rules? All gaming companies registered with the Swedish government for the purposes of offering online gambling must pay tax on their income in Sweden. But how has this benefitted the Swedish economy since then?

This tax income is critical in ensuring a steady revenue stream for the country – as in some US states they use tax revenue to better fill the treasury, or to create funds for social projects. Over the course of 2019 and up until 2020, gaming companies had paid up a total of SEK 923 million – a huge number given the amount of time the law has been in action.

However, actual numbers may be even higher than this – with numbers as high as SEK 1.8 billion being touted by professionals in the regulatory body. This is twice as much as the initial estimates – and we can only assume that this will increase further as time goes on, through a combined income of taxes, application fees, renewal fees, and other administration monies to be paid to the Swedish government.

According to Norskespilleautomater, Swedish regulations have had a huge impact on licensees in the country. Although online gambling usage has increased throughout 2020, we’ve seen that operators are reporting a drop in income from players. This is most likely due to the new deposit limit laws and possibly on bonus caps not enticing players so much.

However, as changes to regulations are rolled out slowly across Europe – notably Germany’s upcoming gambling laws, Portugal’s laws against bonuses, and various quickly-implemented anti-gambling laws put into place over the course of the pandemic in Europe – we can only hope that Sweden’s strict-yet-flexible approach helps more operators function in the legal market. This makes gambling safer, more fun, and ultimately more profitable for the Swedish government as time goes on.

SOURCE: Norskespilleautomater.com

Betsson Group

Betsson Group Celebrates Multiple Wins; Jesper Svensson Takes Home GGA 2026 Executive of the Year

Published

45 minutes ago

January 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

betsson-group-celebrates-multiple-wins;-jesper-svensson-takes-home-gga-2026-executive-of-the-year

At the close of Day 1 of ICE 2026 in Barcelona, the Global Gaming Awards (GGA) took place, celebrating outstanding achievements across the gaming industry. The awards recognise excellence across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and remain one of the most prestigious honours in the sector due to their commitment to transparency and industry credibility.

Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson Group, was recognised as Executive of the Year, underscoring the impact of his leadership over the past year. What makes this accolade particularly significant is that it is determined by senior leaders from across the international gaming industry. Being selected by peers who understand the complexity of steering a large-scale, multinational operator highlights the respect Jesper commands and reinforces the influence he continues to have on the sector. This follows his Outstanding Contribution to Gaming award at the SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025.

Alongside Jesper’s individual recognition, Betsson Group was also honoured with multiple accolades at the Global Gaming Awards 2026:

Social Responsibility of the Year – Winner

Affiliate Programme of the Year – 1st Runner-Up

Sports Betting Operator of the Year – 2nd Runner-Up

These achievements build on Betsson Group’s strong performance in 2025 at the same awards, when the company also won Social Responsibility of the Year and was recognised as Runner-Up for Sports Betting Operator of the Year.

The Global Gaming Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence within the industry, supported by a respected voting panel composed of experienced executives from across the EMEA region and independently adjudicated by KPMG to maintain the highest standards of integrity.

The post Betsson Group Celebrates Multiple Wins; Jesper Svensson Takes Home GGA 2026 Executive of the Year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Esports World Cup 2026 Tickets on Sale Now

Published

45 minutes ago

January 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-world-cup-2026-tickets-on-sale-now

First wave of tickets includes Early Bird passes, premium experiences and special travel offers ahead of seven-week competition for a record-breaking $75 million prize pool

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) officially opened tickets sales for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 through August 23. The first wave of ticket options for fans is now live at esportsworldcup.com and through international ticketing partners Tixr (US and EU), Webook (Middle East and Saudi Arabia), Platinumlist (Middle East and India), and Damai (China), alongside special travel packages from Saudia Holidays available to first purchasers.

EWC 2026 will feature a record-breaking $75 million prize pool that reflects the evolution of the EWC as a premier sporting event and the anchor multi-title competition within the global esports ecosystem. Over 2,000 players representing more than 200 Clubs and over 100 countries will compete in Riyadh in the industry-leading cross-game Club Championship that is now a focal point of the esports calendar.

Limited-edition goodie bags for Weekly All-Access and Premium Tournament purchases contain a collector coin, trading card, aluminium water bottle, tote bag, T-shirt, fridge magnet, merch voucher, and a collectible pin.

Saudia Holidays, the travel division of Saudia Airlines, the Kingdom’s national carrier, now also offers an all-in-one Early Bird package to experience the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, including return flights, hand-picked hotels near the action, and a free All-Access Pass for the full duration of the stay, with one simple booking and no hidden fees.

Regular Tournament Passes and Daily Passes will be released in the next wave of sales.

The EWCF has officially confirmed the weekly schedule for EWC 2026, locking in seven weeks of world-class competition. Below is the schedule for each EWC tournament, sorted by week.

The post Esports World Cup 2026 Tickets on Sale Now appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI gaming platforms

BetConstruct AI Sets the Tone for 2026 iGaming with Harmony Choice Event in Barcelona

Published

3 days ago

January 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

betconstruct-ai-sets-the-tone-for-2026-igaming-with-harmony-choice-event-in-barcelona

BetConstruct AI defines a new era of iGaming at Harmony Choice in Barcelona

On January 17, BetConstruct AI officially ushered in the 2026 iGaming season with Harmony Choice, an exclusive industry gathering held in Barcelona just days ahead of ICE Barcelona. Hosted at one of the city’s most iconic venues, the event brought together senior industry leaders for an evening of strategic dialogue, collaboration, and high-level networking.

Designed to set the tone for the year ahead, Harmony Choice became the stage for a series of major announcements that highlight BetConstruct AI’s ambition to reshape the iGaming ecosystem through artificial intelligence and scalable technology.

Choice Gaming officially launched

Taking center stage, Vigen Badalyan, Co-founder of BetConstruct AI, announced the official launch of Choice Gaming. The platform has already demonstrated rapid adoption, going live on more than 1,000 websites at launch.

Looking ahead, BetConstruct AI revealed an ambitious growth plan, projecting integration across 5,000+ websites by the end of February. To reward early adopters, the company announced that every 51st integrator will receive the entire Choice Gaming slot portfolio free for one year.

KISS AI Live Casino debuts

Harmony Choice also marked the unveiling of KISS AI Live Casino, a groundbreaking live casino solution powered entirely by advanced artificial intelligence. Positioned as a next-generation product, KISS AI Live Casino aims to redefine player interaction and operational efficiency within live gaming environments.

To accelerate adoption, BetConstruct AI introduced a limited-time incentive: partners integrating KISS AI Live Casino by February 25 will receive the platform free for one year.

Faster scaling with Open API integration

Further streamlining partner onboarding, BetConstruct AI announced that Open API integration would be available on both BetConstruct AI and Choice Gaming websites starting January 19. The updated system enables online contract sign-offs, allowing operators to integrate products and scale operations faster and more efficiently.

Leadership insights and new product reveals

The evening also featured strategic insights from senior leadership across the group:

Vahagn Badalyan, CEO of Badalyan Brothers, reviewed recent milestones and unveiled two new live casino games from Creedroomz, reinforcing the group’s live casino offering.
Leonid Kirakosyan, CEO of BetConstruct AI, introduced Betting Mate, an AI-powered recommendation engine designed to enhance sportsbook engagement through personalized, data-driven betting suggestions.

Setting the benchmark for 2026

More than a networking event, Harmony Choice served as a clear statement of intent. By blending human creativity with artificial intelligence, BetConstruct AI demonstrated its commitment to equipping operators with flexible tools, advanced AI solutions, and diverse gaming portfolios.

As the industry turns its attention to ICE Barcelona 2026, BetConstruct AI has set a high benchmark for innovation, scalability, and strategic vision — positioning Harmony Choice as one of the defining moments at the start of the iGaming year.

The post BetConstruct AI Sets the Tone for 2026 iGaming with Harmony Choice Event in Barcelona appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.