In response to Riksdag's criticism of Shekarabi, BOS demands an end to Swedish limitations

The country's government has been urged to "soon eliminate" the temporary gambling restrictions that are still in place and that were recently extended until November 14, 2021, according to BOS, the Swedish trade organisation for online gaming.

This comes after the Constitutional Committee of the Riksdag, Sweden's highest legislative body, criticized the rationale behind the restrictions that were originally put into effect on July 2, 2020, by Ardalan Shekarabi, the minister of social security.

The Committee asserts that a claim that there would have been an upsurge in online casino gambling during the COVID-19 outbreak was based on data that prevented drawing such a firm determination.

The regulations, which are allegedly targeted at "especially dangerous types of gambling," have since been repeatedly extended and will now last until the last month of the year.

These include deposit caps of up to 5,000 SEK for games at online casinos, as well as loss caps of the same amount for games at ATMs.

Moreover, players must establish time limitations while playing at online casinos and ATMs, and bonuses granted by licensees that operate online casinos and ATMs are only allowed to total SEK 100.

According to the Constitution Committee's statement, the assessment also took into account the justification for interim gaming rules provided by Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi.

It is now obvious that the minister's assertion was supported by data that made it impossible to draw a firm conclusion on whether gambling had grown or not. The accuracy of the information the minister delivers is likewise his responsibility.

BOS has consistently criticized the measures, along with a number of other market leaders. Last month, the trade association said that the latest extension could further harm the Swedish market, that players will lose out on consumer protection, and that channelization concerns had previously been widely voiced.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS, responded to the Committee's statement by saying: "Everyone has known that there was no basis for the statement about the alleged increase in online casino gambling.

"It is encouraging that the Constitutional Committee of the Riksdag has now confirmed that. Ministers must have evidence to support their claims; it is not sufficient to say something merely because it fits with the course of action they want to take.

"The fundamental reason why this kind of gaming is still subject to very harsh interim limitations is because of the minister's claims regarding the purported but erroneous surge in online casinos during the epidemic. The government's swift removal of these prohibitions must be the next logical step.

What is Responsible Gambling?

Every type of gambling should adhere to the principles of the Gambling Act and be performed securely and responsibly in order for it to be pleasurable but never detrimental to an individual or their family. This is the general idea behind responsible gambling. Although it may have a good time and entertaining form of entertainment, gambling can also have bad effects if it is not properly controlled by the player or the promoter. Consumers should always be informed of the odds or possibilities of winning, all the terms and conditions, and should be urged to play only with an amount they can afford and find pleasurable.