The latest figures paint a thriving picture of the gambling market in Europe. For instance, in 2022, Europe-wide gambling revenues were estimated at €108.5bn, representing an increase of 23% from 2021. The rise of iGaming in the region, particularly the UK, can be attributed to various things, including technological advances that have opened up access to gambling services for many people. 

Of Europe’s member states, Sweden has the highest number of online gamblers, followed by Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and the UK. It is no wonder the country’s casino industry is one of the most highly regulated in the world. 

As the gambling market continues to grow at unprecedented rates, the impetus is on operators to exercise a duty of care and protect their players from harmful gambling habits. In this piece, we look at how Sweden’s regulatory framework promotes responsible gambling practices and what lessons other countries, such as the UK, can take to protect casino gamblers with a strong emphasis on self-exclusion.

The Gambling Problem

Throughout history, gambling has been enjoyed by millions of people from all walks of life. With much of the casino gambling today taking place through smartphones, people can now bet anywhere without any issue—or so we would like to believe. The ease with which punters can gamble has also given rise to cases of gambling addiction, catastrophic financial loss, depression, and, in some not-so-rare tragic cases, suicide.

We have been treated to news of operators who were exposed for allowing players to lose huge sums of money within hours. Such was the case with William Hill, who were on the spot for a number of gross regulatory misconduct, including allowing a new player to wager £100,000 despite having a limit of £70,000 and letting another vulnerable player lose £ 14,902 within 70 minutes without initiating any duty of care procedures. 

It is estimated that over 300,000 gamblers have a gambling problem in the UK alone, and this problem is more severe among online casino players. This is despite casino operators being required by law to prevent harm. With operators continuing to allow players to suffer losses that the majority cannot afford, it is up to the government of the day to enact stricter measures to shield players from gambling vices.

Sweden’s Self-Exclusion Regulation: The Key to Promoting Responsible Gambling

Sweden has the most player-centered gambling regulations. Sweden’s laws prioritize gamblers’ well-being, which the UK could emulate. In Sweden, operators are legally responsible for complying with the Duty of Care Act. 

Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling regulator, will now be allowed to gamble under a hidden identity to unmask unscrupulous casino operators. The country also amended its Gaming Act to give financial service providers the authority to block payments to unlicensed operators. The country has also proposed a regulation to prevent match-fixing. 

That said, perhaps the most effective tool for promoting responsible gambling has been enabling gamblers to individually self-exclude themselves from all registered gambling operator websites. All the registered casino operators listed by sverige-casinon.se must comply with that request and desist from issuing any gambling material to the player. 

This is in addition to the minimum age restriction, which prohibits persons under 18 and those under 20 from entering Casino Cosmopol. There is also a prohibition on offering credit, bonus offers, and social responsibility of the license holder. Under social responsibility, licensed operators are required to ensure their customers’ social and health considerations are observed and taken into account.

What is Spelpaus?

The government of Sweden runs a self-exclusion system, the Spelpaus, which allows players to block themselves from accessing all gambling sites operating in Sweden. This system was introduced in 2019 and has become a popular choice for many players who wish to protect themselves from harmful gambling. Only three years after its launch, Spelsaus had 80,000 people registering to self-exclude. 

This system blocks an individual’s access to all online casinos and betting materials, such as adverts and offers. After registering to self-exclude, folks can select the duration of their exclusion. Within minutes, their request will be acted upon, and they will gain instant protection. Players will only be able to resume gambling after the suspension duration expires. All licensed operators in Sweden are required by law to integrate with Spelsaus. This should allow them to block the access of any player who signs up for the self-exclusion scheme. 

To improve the efficacy of the self-exclusion system, Spelsaus received an update that allows users to easily access guidance and support on gambling problems. Another impressive addition to the system is that players can now extend the duration of their suspension from gambling activities.

Conclusion

While the economic impact of casinos is undeniable, problem gambling is a real issue that cannot be swept under the rug. Countries such as the UK are recording massive numbers of people with gambling addiction and other gambling-related problems. If left unabated, these issues can be catastrophic and tragic. 

Luckily, several jurisdictions are addressing this problem through proactive policy-making initiatives. A country like Sweden has been a trendsetter in promoting safe betting spaces and responsible gambling. Its trademark Spelsaus self-exclusion system is one of the key regulatory tools other countries can emulate to curb gambling problems. This will be achieved without compromising the overall economic contribution of casinos and other gaming operators on a nation.