Offshore operators continue to dominate Swedish online gambling

H1-2017 figures released this week by Sweden’s regulator Lotteriinspektionen show that online gambling operators licensed offshore continue to dominate the online segment, although the local gambling monopoly has experienced revenue growth in the double-digits.

Sweden’s overall gambling market reported turnover of SEK 11 billion in the first half of 2017 – up 3 percent year-on-year, with state-owned Svenska Spel delivering turnover from all divisions down 2 percent at SEK 4.3 billion, but online gains up 12 percent at SEK 1 billion. That translates to non-internet gambling turnover down 5 percent at Svenska Spel.

In contrast, offshore licensed operators achieved turnover in the Swedish online gambling market of SEK 2.65 billion, an impressive 17 percent year-on-year hike.

Our readers may recall reports last month on a Mediavision survey that found that 61 percent of all new online gambling accounts set up over the past year were with internationally licensed operators, with bet365, LeoVegas and Unibet particularly successful.

The liberalisation of Sweden’s market appears to be progressing, albeit slowly, with political observers holding the view that there will be little action on the project until the national elections next September decide which political party or parties will have control.

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