The audit office intends to conduct an investigation into the effectiveness of the Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen. This is in response to the changing regulatory conditions in the Swedish gambling market, which were introduced through new regulations on 1 July 2023.
The new regulations include the requirement for gambling operators to cooperate with the police on gambling-related crimes and the establishment of supplier licenses. Additionally, the regulations grant new enforcement powers to Spelinspektionen.
The audit office aims to assess whether the regulator is fulfilling its mission of developing a safe gambling market that raises money for good causes while minimizing consumer harm and criminal activity. The office plans to follow international auditing standards in conducting the investigation, which may involve qualitative methods such as interviews and document studies, as well as quantitative approaches like data analysis and statistical compilation.
The audit will focus on examining the commitments and results of the state’s activities in regulating the gambling sector. The office’s review will prioritize ensuring that the state receives an effective exchange for its efforts.
In June, the Online Gaming Industry Association (BOS) reported that only 77% of Swedish consumers were utilizing regulated and legal gambling offerings, which BOS referred to as a “critically low” channelization rate. This falls short of the country’s official goal of achieving a 90% channelization rate.
