iGaming Industry
A slow but steady decline in Swedish gambling participation
There’s been a slow but steady decline in the number of Swedes who admit to gambling in the past year, according to the latest survey by the country’s gambling regulator.
On Wednesday, the Lotteriinspektionen gaming regulatory body released its annual snapshot of the average Swedish gambler, which showed that 66% of the 1,044 adults surveyed had engaged in at least one form of gambling over the past 12 months. (The full survey results can be found here, in Swedish.)
The figure is down only two points from the 2016 survey, but this number has been trending downward in each of the past four annual surveys and is now five points below the 2014 survey.
Of those who hadn’t gambled in the last 12 months, 34% claimed it was because they never won anything, a five-point rise in this justification from 2016. A further 22% said it was because they had no confidence in the current gaming market, also up five points year-on-year.
Only 3% of respondents copped to having gambled too much at some point in the past year, a number that has remained unchanged over the past four years. These problem gamblers skewed heavily male, with 4% of men saying they’d imbibed too much while just 1% of women answered ‘ja’ to this question.
Of those Swedes who partook in online gambling, the (for the moment) state-owned Svenska Spel was by far the preferred online operator, netting a majority 52% chunk of the responses. Sweden’s monopoly horserace betting operator ATG ranked second with 16%, the only other operator to achieve a double-digit score.
As for the rest of this chart, the Kindred Group’s Unibet ranked highest, albeit with a mere 3%. Local boys Betsson tied with UK betting giants Bet365 at 2%, while Kindred Group’s female-friendly Maria Casino, The Stars Group’s PokerStars, Mr Green, LeoVegas and Cherry AB were all knotted up at 1% apiece. (Of all these operators, only Bet365 and PokerStars don’t have Swedish roots.)
It’s worth noting that while Svenska Spel’s online turnover amounted to SEK 1b (US $119m) in the first half of 2017, combined turnover from ‘non-Swedish actors’ came to SEK 2.65b during this same period, so while Svenska Spel gets the most Swedish customers, they’re mostly lottery-playing minnows, while the other sites get the real Swedish fish.
COURT SIDES WITH GOVERNMENT OVER ONLINE GAMBLING ADVERTS
Sweden is currently on the slow road to online gambling liberalization that will end Svenska Spel’s online monopoly and allow international operators the right to apply for local licenses. However, no action is expected to be taken until after the September 2018 national elections, meaning no actual market changes until early 2019 at the earliest.
In October, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court upheld a controversial ban on local media outlets running advertising for internationally licensed online gambling operators. The issue had been brewing for years, with Svenska Spel blaming the media for helping these international rapscallions undercut its online offering.
Lotteriinspektionen director general Camilla Rosenberg, who formally took over from the departed Håkan Hallstedt last month, said she expected all media companies to now follow the rules, while warning that the ruling would make prosecuting uncooperative media companies a far more simpler process.…
The post A slow but steady decline in Swedish gambling participation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming – News – Interviews – Legal Market Updates – Premium Reports – Events – Directory.
Source: EEGaming.
Bradley Khoury
eCOGRA Approved to Operate in Arizona, Indiana and Panama
eCOGRA, a leading international authority in Testing, Inspection and Certification services for the iGaming industry, has secured new regulatory approvals across three key jurisdictions: Arizona, Indiana and Panama. With these developments, eCOGRA strengthens its position in the U.S. and Latin American markets, offering excellence in compliance through their Quality, Speed, and Service promise.
This strategic expansion allows eCOGRA to conduct independent compliance audits and certification services in each region, addressing the growing demand for rigorous regulatory oversight in the fast-evolving global iGaming industry.
Securing approval in Arizona, where eCOGRA has now been licensed as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier, enables the International Testing Laboratory (ITL) to audit event wagering licensees in line with Arizona’s expanding regulatory landscape. Indiana, which introduced online sports betting in September 2019, has authorised eCOGRA to perform regulatory compliance audits, providing licensed operators with crucial assurance in meeting the state’s high standards.
In Panama, the Board of Gaming Control officially recognised eCOGRA as an Authorised Entity for Compliance Certification, specifically for slot machines and gaming software. This endorsement reinforces eCOGRA’s role as a trusted partner for operators seeking to meet stringent regulatory requirements in Latin America’s emerging iGaming sector.
“Our recent approvals in Indiana, Arizona, and Panama underline our dedication to continually expand our offering, to support our growing portfolio of clients with their global growth plans. We are committed to ensuring that we bring the same quality, speed and service that marks us out to both our clients and regulators in these dynamic markets,” said Will Shuckburgh, Group CEO of eCOGRA.
Bradley Khoury, Chief Technology Officer at eCOGRA, said: “Securing licensure as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier in Arizona and an Authorised Entity in Panama underscores our dedication to supporting responsible and sustainable iGaming operations. We are committed to driving trust and accountability within the industry by providing compliance solutions that uphold the highest standards.”
BetConstruct
BetConstruct to Showcase Latest Innovations at G2E Las Vegas 2024
BetConstruct, a global leader in the iGaming industry, is going to showcase its cutting-edge solutions at the highly anticipated Global Gaming Expo (G2E), taking place from October 7-10.
As the premier event for the global gaming industry, G2E serves as a hub for innovation, driving growth by bringing together industry professionals from around the world to foster business opportunities.
Taking place at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, this all-in-one event features both an education program from October 7-10 and an expansive expo hall running from October 8-10.
BetConstruct’s stand is 5230, where the team will showcase an exciting range of products, including the newly launched the Last Battle, a novel loyalty system that is the byproduct of BetConstruct’s commitment to innovation. The company will also demonstrate its comprehensive Sportsbook and Casino Suite, along with DECA, its next-level decentralised casino platform, and Umbrella, an AI-powered risk management solution. These offerings are designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of operators, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences for players across the regulated market.
Amusnet
Amusnet Sets the Stage for Global Gaming Excellence at G2E Las Vegas
Amusnet has announced its participation in the 23rd edition of G2E Las Vegas (Global Gaming Expo) at The Venetian Expo from October 7-10. As one of the largest expos globally, G2E provides a platform for the company to showcase products across its Online Casino, Live Casino, and Land-based verticals, positioning Amusnet as a prominent all-casino provider in the competitive iGaming industry.
“We are excited to attend G2E Las Vegas 2024 to present our latest online casino portfolio and Type S slot cabinets: our first-ever product series for Land-based casinos, designed to offer a competitive edge by combining Amusnet’s top-notch game portfolio with an immersive player experience. Our focus is on delivering solutions that maximize performance and cater to the evolving needs for both online and land-based casinos,” said Borislav Marinov, Head of Business Development, Land-based, at Amusnet.
Alongside its technical excellence, the premium Type S series showcases the company’s award-winning titles, including 20 Golden Coins, Extra Crown, Fruits & Gold, and Cocktail Rush. It also features Amusnet’s popular four-level bonus game, Jackpot Cards, along with other exciting features like Free Spins, Buy Bonus, Pick Me Bonus, and Symbol Upgrade.
Amusnet will host an activation featuring its premium slot cabinets at the upcoming expo, offering attendees the opportunity to experience the thrill of Type S in real time and win exciting gifts.
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