The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) submits its statement to the Ministry of Finance on the memorandum “A new ban on gambling on credit”, in which a ban on credit cards for gambling is proposed.

BOS rejects the proposal. This is justified by Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, among other things through the proposal’s negative consequences on channelization.

If the government nevertheless goes ahead with the proposal, BOS proposes that the obligation not to mediate payments for gambling purposes be imposed on those issuing credit cards rather than on gambling operators. In this way, it will be prohibited for credit card issuers, under the supervision of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen), to mediate payments via credit cards for all gambling companies, including illegal and/or unlicensed gambling companies. Almost half of the Swedish online casino market is unlicensed and/or illegal due to heavy restrictions of the licensed market.

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In the name of consumer protection Sweden should not add new restrictions on consumers that still place their bets on the legal gambling market. That is the main reason for us to turn this suggestion down. Should the government want to proceed with a credit card prohibition on gambling, we suggest that such restriction is directed not towards gambling operators but credit card issuers, since the latter are also serving the half of the market that is illegal and unlicensed, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.

The Spanish gambling regulator DGOJ has initiated work on data administration policies and practices for the creation of a common centralised registry of gambling data. The registry would compile customer data from all Spanish-licensed gambling operators to provide a holistic view of activity.

DGOJ director general Mikel Arana has taken input from the Sectoral Commission, the General Assembly’s advisory body for policy and federal and directives. Initial discussions are focusing on improving data integration across public administrations and integrating the data into a comprehensive report on gaming activity.

Arana said: “The establishment of a centralised data registry will enhance the transparency and accountability of gambling operations in Spain. It will provide a robust framework for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of responsible gaming.”

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The General Assembly ordered the creation of a central registry over a year ago through the Decree on Responsible Gambling Environments. It will allow the DGOJ to monitor gambling licensees’ activities and customer engagement. Operators will have to establish risk profiles for customers aged under 25.

The next stage will involve consultations with stakeholders, including operators. The DGOJ aims to finalise an implementation plan by the end of the year. The registry would come into effect in early 2025. The remaining know-your-customer measures of the decree will be introduced in 2025.