Compliance Updates
Sweden’s Konsumentverket Publishes Report on Loot Boxes and Other Gambling-like Features in Games
The Swedish Consumer Agency Konsumentverket (KO) has published a report on loot boxes and other gambling-like features in games.
The report states that loot boxes or other gambling-like features in games could be regulated under the Swedish Gambling Act (2018) when prizes from in-game features constitute money or money’s worth.
If the in-game features have a monetary value from being able to be traded for money or money’s worth, then there is a real risk that loot boxes or other gambling-like features in games could constitute gambling and, therefore, would require a licence.
The Swedish courts have yet to decide whether loot boxes and other gambling-like features in games fall under the Swedish Gambling Act or not. If they would be considered to fall under the act the KO deems the act to provide wide protection for consumers.
The report shows that there is not, at this point in time, sufficient research to be able to establish a connection between loot boxes and gambling. The KO cannot motivate or recommend any further measures to be taken due to the lack of sufficient research. However, the KO still encourages the gaming industry to continue its self-regulation.
Despite the lack of sufficient research, the KO deems there to be grounds for further investigation with regard to children and adolescents, which is considered to be a particularly vulnerable group of consumers. For this reason, the KO believes that further regulation could be justified, if supported by research, in order to protect the wellbeing of children and adolescents.
The report is perhaps the first step in the process of adjusting Swedish consumer regulation to the risks posed by the blurring of lines between gaming and gambling.
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The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has renewed the licence of Singapore Pools (Private) Limited (Singapore Pools) to conduct betting operations, gaming and lotteries under Section 54 of the Gambling Control Act 2022 (GCA). The tenure for the licence will be five years with effect from 25 October 2025, following GRA’s assessment that Singapore Pools has fulfilled the requirements under Section 54 the GCA.
The post GRA Renews Singapore Pools Licence for Five-year Term appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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An official complaint has been filed by the European Gambling and Amusement Federation (Euromat) with the European Commission regarding Croatia’s amendments of its Gambling Act.
Under Directive (EU) 2015/1535, member countries are obliged to notify any changes to its Gambling Act through the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS). According to Euromat, the Croatian government failed to do this when introducing “far-reaching” technical rules affecting access and provision of services on the Croatian gambling market.
Failure to notify constitutes a breach of EU law.
These changes include mandatory player identification systems, strict limitations on the location and layout of gambling venues, a comprehensive ban on online and social-media advertising, temporal restrictions on operation and a central player self-exclusion register.
“This complaint marks an important first step in the EU’s legal process. Complaints such as that filed by Euromat are a key tool to alert the Commission to potential breaches of EU law. Based on Euromat’s complaint, the European Commission will be able to assess the evidence and decide on the next steps, including whether to open infringement proceedings against Croatia,” said Euromat president Jason Frost.
“The notification procedure exists to ensure that national measures are compatible with the principles of the single market. Croatia’s decision to ignore this obligation not only breaches EU law; it also threatens legal certainty for businesses across Europe. The Commission must act decisively to uphold the integrity of the internal market.”
The post Euromat Files Complaint Over Croatia’s Gambling Act Amendment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has announced the plans to offer the option of applying for a limited operating license that only permits the operation of skill-based machines. This will make it easier for operators who only operate skill-based machines to apply for a license.
Request from the market
With this limited operating license, the KSA is meeting a need in the gaming machine market. Operators with only skill-based machines have indicated they would like a separate license, separate from the offering of gaming machines. This limited operating license can have a shorter substantive review process and therefore be issued more quickly.
Various slot machines
At the moment, there is only one type of operating license for gaming machines, which applies to gaming machines in halls and catering establishments and skill machines.
A skill machine is a slot machine:
Which does not award prizes except for extra or longer games; and
Where the course of the game depends entirely or almost entirely on the skill of the player.
A classic example of a skill machine is a pinball machine, where players can win extra balls. Any slot machine that isn’t a skill machine is automatically a chance machine.
More information about the permit application
The Royal Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) will soon provide more information about the application procedure for the limited operating license for skill machines.
The post KSA to Introduce New Licences for Skill-based Gaming Machines appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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