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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.
ELA Games is excited to announce the official B2B launch of Wealth of the East. The game, now accessible to partners, was initially introduced to the industry as the studio’s highlight during the three-day event in Barcelona, where it attracted the attention of numerous operators and aggregators because of its unique combination of slot mechanics and tabletop gaming.
The unique unveiling at ICE turned out to be a significant triumph, paving the way for the complete rollout. The ELA Games exhibit gathered industry representatives to engage with the game’s distinctive selling proposition: a twenty-sided Dice (D20) element that adds a tactile, physical sensation to digital slot gaming.
A Festivity of Wealth
The reels of Wealth of the East sparkle with the vibrant essence of an Eastern celebration. The gameplay is centered around the charming figure God Fu, a god of wealth serving as the Wild symbol in the game. He may arrive at any moment, and when he shows up, all Dice on the display spring to life, uncovering multipliers that enhance every coin visible or activate instant Jackpots. These empowered coins provide instant payouts, rewarding players as soon as they appear.
Sparking the Hold & Win Safe
The game showcases a visually impressive progression system crafted to uphold the festive theme and decorated with vibrant reds and golds. Every gathered coin also flies upward into the Golden Pot located above the reels, gradually enriching it with festive treasure that players can see and experience.
As the pot overflows, the screen bursts into red and gold as the Hold & Win game starts. Players receive 3 respins and a setup prepared to collect gold. In this intense feature, the elusive Imperial Lotus can appear, boosting multiple rewards simultaneously and elevating the entire round to new levels.
Game Stats:
● Reels: 5×3
● Lines: 10
● Max Win: x5,000
● Max Exposure: €250,000
● Buy Bonus: Yes
● Volatility: Mid
● RTP: 93.97% / 96.06%
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, commented: “Wealth of the East was the perfect title for us to showcase at ICE 2026. We took the classic t’Eastern Celebration’ theme and gave it a distinct twist with the God Fu character and his twenty-sided dice. It adds an original, tactile layer of excitement that players really respond to. The ‘Rising Pot’ visualizes the journey toward the bonus, keeping the excitement building spin after spin. We can’t wait for the industry to see the celebration in action.”
The post Following ICE 2026 Triumph, ELA Games Officially Releases “Wealth of the East” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has signed its latest supplier partnership with Reflex Gaming, the UK’s largest independently owned omnichannel game supplier, enabling its platform customers to access the studio’s expansive slots catalogue.
Established in 2004, Reflex Gaming’s prolific production line run of legendary games has catapulted the supplier to igaming prominence and recognition, offering a diverse array of gaming experiences across both digital and analogue markets, and driving through new innovations in gaming, including the creation of entirely new gaming categories.
Reflex Gaming creates the highest quality digital gaming content for license to many of the world’s leading casino operators, as evidenced by its steady stream of recent hit titles, including Candy Crazed Pandas DoubleMax, Big Game Fishing Christmas Catch, The Cursed Idol, and 8 Balls of Fire Blazing Bounty. All of these games and more are now available via QTech’s premier platform, which is taking the widest range of online games to international markets, with established names sitting alongside the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming providers.
This collaboration naturally broadens Reflex Gaming’s international scope, unlocking untapped regions for diversified growth, above all in Africa and Latin America.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re dedicated to constantly launching more and more first-class content and product innovation that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with Reflex Gaming extends our impressive sequential pipeline into 2026 – and we’ve so much more to come this year! In today’s marketplace, only premium games of the highest standard separate you from the crowd. So, we look forward to sharing their wide spectrum of games with both leading and challenger operator brands in emerging markets worldwide.”
Mat Ingram, Chief Product Officer at Reflex Gaming, added: “At Reflex Gaming, we pride ourselves on working with the sector’s biggest and most commercially recognised partners, and QTech Games fits our growth plan perfectly, as we continue to expand our horizons into new territories, leveraging our brand’s values which . QTech’s platform is a gateway to global audiences, so we can’t wait to see how our highly engaging games perform across a greenfield landscape of emerging markets.”
The post QTech Games add more content muscle with Reflex Gaming portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
- Buenos Aires – 16 March (12:00–19:00)
- Malta – 28 April (10:00–16:00)
- Miami – 9 June (time TBC)
- Rome – Grand Finale – 2 November (time TBC)
Additionally, SiGMA CMO Lauranne Urban added: “Blokotech’s Padel Tour is a wonderful idea that we’ve been honoured to help bring to life. It will provide the perfect platform for sporting action, networking and industry culture. This initiative aligns with our event philosophy to deliver engaging, community-driven experiences beyond the conference floor.”
The post Blokotech serves up Global Padel Tour in collaboration with SiGMA appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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