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BOS op-ed: “Svenska Spel’s betting company must be sold by the state”

Published

3 years ago

December 26, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Dagens Nyheter – Sweden’s largest morning paper – today published an op-ed signed Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling. Hoffstedt is urging the government to sell the betting and online casino part of the governmental gambling operator Svenska Spel.

We are pleased to bring you the English version of the editorial which you can read in full below:

Sell Svenska Spel

Since 2019, Sweden has had a licensing system for gambling companies. Anyone who wants to operate in the Swedish gambling market must have a state license. As of 2019, there are two types of gambling markets; partly a monopoly that mainly offers lotteries, for example, the popular Trisslotten. In this market, private profit–making gambling companies are not allowed to operate. Partly a commercial competitive gambling market that mainly offers online casinos and betting, for example betting on horses and football. In this market, private commercial gambling companies can apply for and be awarded a license to operate in the Swedish gambling market.

Through Svenska Spel, the state is active in both of these markets, but now the time has come to divest Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, i.e. the part of the company that is active in the commercial, competitive gambling market.

Around 70 gambling companies are fighting for market share in the part of the gambling market that is open to competition and offers online casinos as well as betting on horses, football, other sports, and even who will win the next parliamentary election or Schlagerfestivalen. One of these companies is state–owned: Svenska Spel. It is difficult to find arguments for continued government commercial involvement in that market.

Normally, the state usually engages in business activities when the market itself has failed, above all in terms of competition. There may be too few players in a market and the few that exist may have too dominant a position for competition to function. Then the state steps in as a commercial actor with the ambition of countering that market failure. However, no one who has followed developments in the Swedish gambling market can claim that there is too little competition between the 70 companies that operate in competitive gambling. Competition is fierce and would remain so even in the absence of the state as a commercial casino operator and bookmaker in betting.

Another argument for conducting state–owned commercial gambling activities could be a desire to act as an example for all other companies on the market, for example in not producing as much gambling advertising as the competitors. Anyone who has followed Svenska Spel’s marketing since the reregulation knows, however, that the company is one of Sweden’s largest advertisers in all categories, i.e. including gambling but also other large advertising buyers such as grocers and car manufacturers. Svenska Spel’s extensive advertising purchases rather force the private gambling companies to make larger advertising purchases on their part than would otherwise have been the case.

“A state–owned gambling company that operates in direct competition with others is, in principle, like any other gambling company,” says the government investigation from 2017, which was the basis for the Swedish reregulation of the gambling market. That’s exactly how it is; Svenska Spel Sport & Casino has exactly the same license as other gambling companies. They follow exactly the same responsible gambling regulations, and they do it no better or worse than their competitors. They pay exactly the same gambling tax as all other gambling companies. Therefore, the logical consequence already became apparent to the Gambling License Investigation six years ago: “The conclusion is, according to the investigation, that the best alternative would be to divest the competition part.” [A reregulated gaming market, SOU 2017:30, p. 34]

So the only remaining question is why hasn’t the company been sold yet?

Perhaps an argument for keeping the company under state auspices could be its return to the state. But the idea is of course not for the company to be liquidated, but on the contrary to be sold to the highest bidder and then continue to be run, albeit privately. With the same requirement to pay gambling tax.

Not entirely surprisingly, there is a classic division here between political parties on the right and the left. Parties on the left view positively that the state owns companies and runs businesses, while parties on the right do not. This is also the case in this matter, and before the reregulation, the center-right parties had to waive stricter demands for the divestment of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino in order for the Social Democrat–led government to agree to introduce the gambling license system we have today.

Now that time is over and we have a new government, which together with the Sweden Democrats forms a majority in the Riksdag. The moderates have long advocated a divestment of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, as have the Sweden Democrats. The voters who have given the center-right parties the power to rule Sweden have very reasonable expectations that the government will now move from words to action.

This is really nothing new for a center-right government. The last time Sweden had such a government, it concluded that the fact that the Swedish state had then become one of the world’s largest producers of alcohol was not in line with the government’s idea of what a state should do. Thus Vin & Sprit AB was sold in 2008, with the Absolut brand, for 55 billion kronor to France’s Pernod Ricard, which still runs the business for the benefit of Scanian grain farmers, among others.

It is now high time that our own contemporary anomaly, the state’s role as a casino operator and bookmaker, found an end. And unlike the long–awaited introduction of gambling licenses, which took place at the initiative of the Social Democrats, it would be desirable for this to happen during a center-right wing government in power. What else should it have the power for, if not to implement what it said in opposition it wanted to do?

Gustaf Hoffstedt
Secretary General, The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling

[Gustaf Hoffstedt is among the speakers of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit which will be held between 29-30 March 2023. More details about the summit can be found here.]

bingo

Published

47 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

End2End, a global technology provider dedicated exclusively to multiplayer bingo solutions, is set to strengthen its presence in Brazil during BiS SiGMA South America 2026, taking place from April 6–9 at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.

As Brazil’s regulated gaming market continues to evolve, digital bingo is emerging as a compelling complementary vertical for licensed operators. With a deep-rooted cultural connection to bingo, Brazilian players are primed for modern, multiplayer digital experiences, offering significant opportunities for operators to diversify their portfolios.

At the event, End2End will showcase its expertise in the Brazilian market, engage with potential white-label partners for the End2End Bingo Network, and explore new affiliate partnerships to expand distribution and differentiate operator offerings.

Founder and CEO Alejandro Revich and Chief Commercial Officer Pablo Bonifacich will be on-site throughout the expo to meet with operators, affiliates, and partners seeking innovative product solutions for the Brazilian ecosystem.

End2End’s technology is designed as a complete end-to-end solution, combining its proprietary multiplayer bingo platform, Player Account Management (PAM) system, and network infrastructure to enable scalable deployments across mobile, online, and retail environments. All solutions are certified for Brazil and fully compliant with GLI-19 standards, underscoring the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and high operational standards.

Alejandro Revich, Founder and CEO of End2End, commented:
“Brazil is one of the most exciting gaming markets in the world, and with our certification in place, bingo is poised to become a key vertical as operators expand their offerings. The cultural affinity for bingo is undeniable, and the digital infrastructure is ready. At BiS SiGMA, we aim to demonstrate how our network model works and why End2End is the ideal partner to bring bingo to life in Brazil. We’re here to grow our network, build partnerships, and show that when it comes to bingo in Brazil, End2End is the clear choice.”

The post appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

155.io

155.io launches Snow Run, bringing real-world winter sports action to its CCTV Game™ portfolio

Published

2 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

155.io-launches-snow-run,-bringing-real-world-winter-sports-action-to-its-cctv-game-portfolio

155.io, Winter Sports Betting, the innovative content studio redefining real-world gaming, has unveiled Snow Run, the latest addition to its CCTV Game portfolio. The title offers a fresh, immersive betting experience powered by live-action winter sports footage.

The game launches exclusively with Roobet for a seven-day period before being rolled out to other operator partners.

Building on the success of its traffic-themed hit Rush Hour, Snow Run takes players to stunning mountain resorts worldwide, where skiers and snowboarders race down slopes captured via GoPro POVs, drones, slope-side cameras, and CCTV feeds. Players must predict how many athletes will pass through a designated zone, creating a fast-paced and intuitive betting experience.

Available 24/7, Snow Run offers multiple betting options, including Under, Over, Range, and Exact, with multipliers of up to 18x. Using automated computer vision, all skiers are tracked in real time, ensuring transparent, consistent results without human intervention.

As with all CCTV Game titles, Snow Run features entirely real footage curated from leading content creators, delivering an authentic and visually engaging gaming experience that stands out in the online casino space.

Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said:
“Snow Run takes our simple, engaging mechanic to a completely new environment — real mountain slopes captured from multiple angles. The social media response from streamers has been phenomenal, showing just how much players value authenticity. Launching with Roobet gives us a perfect head start, and we’re confident it will gain real traction ahead of the global rollout.”

After the exclusivity period, Snow Run will be available globally, further expanding 155.io’s portfolio of real-time, content-driven gaming experiences.

The post 155.io launches Snow Run, bringing real-world winter sports action to its CCTV Game™ portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Champions Club

Champions Club Secures José Mourinho on New Deal

Published

2 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

champions-club-secures-jose-mourinho-on-new-deal

GR8 Tech and José Mourinho have formed a collaboration designed for the Champions Club—GR8 Tech’s exclusive network for partners competing at a championship standard, where technology, knowledge, and a performance-driven culture take the place of luck to achieve outcomes.

Because a championship is not just a moment. It is a technique—one that appears in training sessions, in data, in choices made without stress that later withstand it all.

Among the most accomplished coaches in football history, Mourinho has established his career through discipline, tactical brilliance, and unyielding preparation. GR8 Tech, a celebrated B2B iGaming platform provider, applies this same methodology to the sector with robust technology, intelligent analytics, and high-performing solutions.

This collaboration brings together two entities that hold the belief that success is founded on strategy, management, and implementation.

“José Mourinho represents the mindset we believe in: success is engineered long before the final result. In iGaming, just like in football, winning comes from preparation, structure, and the ability to perform under pressure,” said Oleksandr Feshchenko, CEO of GR8 Tech.

Champions Don’t Believe in Luck

Success in football and iGaming is frequently viewed by individuals as a result of luck, an opportune moment, ideal timing, or a pass that aligns perfectly with your needs. However, lasting success is never by chance.

That is why José Mourinho is such an ideal match for GR8 Tech. His career has been characterized by the capacity to transform preparation into outcomes, establishing successful systems, and setting the stage for triumph prior to the start of the competition.

The same applies in iGaming. Sustainable performance relies on the robustness of the platform, the caliber of the technology, and the capability to scale accurately. Benefit arises from smart choices and steady implementation.

“I have worked with many organizations over the years. What separates the ones who win consistently is never talent alone—it is culture. The belief that preparation is never optional. I recognized that in GR8 Tech immediately,” said José Mourinho.

What Comes Next

José Mourinho’s arrival marks the start of a wider campaign for GR8 Tech. Over the coming months, GR8 Tech will bring the Champions Club to life through a series of activations and collaborations that reflect what both parties stand for—and what operators who compete at the highest level should expect from a platform built to match their ambition.

The standard has been set. The work has already begun.

Luck off. Championship—ON!

The post Champions Club Secures José Mourinho on New Deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.