In an ongoing effort to streamline gambling regulation across borders, the UK Gambling Commission and Sweden’s Spelinspektionen have reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration with the renewal of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). First established in November 2019, this alliance aims to share best practices in regulating the complex and evolving gambling industry.
Under the enhanced agreement, the British and Swedish regulatory bodies will maintain active communication and continue to work together to further their understanding of each other’s regulatory approaches and to assist one another on matters of policy and operational significance.
Camilla Rosenberg, the director-general of Spelinspektionen, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the face of a globally integrated gambling market. Acknowledging the nuances and differences between the industries in their respective markets, Rosenberg believes there is a wealth of shared experiences from which both authorities can benefit. “By working together,” she stated, “we can achieve our common goals of a healthy and safe gambling market.”
Expanding their network, Spelinspektionen also boasts similar MoU agreements with gambling authorities in the Netherlands, Malta, and Gibraltar. These partnerships underline the regulator’s dedication to fostering a collaborative environment for gambling regulation across different jurisdictions.
Moreover, recent statistics have shed light on the performance of the Swedish gambling market. According to the figures published by Spelinspektionen for 2023, there has been a slight downturn, with a 1.2% decrease in overall gambling revenue, totaling SEK27.13 billion. Despite this, online gambling remains the dominant sector, generating SEK17.03 billion, albeit marginally lower than the year before.
Contrasts were evident as state lottery and slot machine revenues witnessed a more substantial drop of 3.6%, falling to SEK5.60 billion. Similarly, the numbers for land-based casinos operated by the state-owned Casino Cosmopol were down by a stark 11.4%, equating to SEK485 million.
Conversely, not all parts of the industry saw declines. Revenue from national lotteries experienced a modest increase of 1.4%, settling at SEK3.60 billion. Additionally, there were rises noted in public games, which surged by 9.3% to SEK199 million, as well as in the land-based commercial gambling sector, registering a 2.3% increase to SEK225 million.
Turning to the British gambling landscape, the UK Gambling Commission has not yet produced a comprehensive report for 2023. Nonetheless, the latest available data, which covers Q3 of the prior year for the online sector, presents a more positive picture with a 4% year-on-year increase in gross gambling yield (GGY), amounting to £1.30 billion.
Breaking down the figures, online slots reached a record-breaking GGY of £618 million, surging by 6%. Real-event betting also saw a boost, climbing by 5% to £468 million. The period yielded a GGY of £159.7 million for online casinos, £12.0 million for virtual betting, £2.4 million for esports betting, and £17.6 million for poker. Additionally, other sources contributed a further £2.0 million.
In contrast, the land-based gambling sector in Great Britain experienced mixed results in the third quarter. Machine GGY, representing the primary income source in this sector, fell by 3% to £293 million. Likewise, GGY from over-the-counter bets decreased by the same margin to £153 million. On a positive note, self-service betting terminals witnessed a significant rise in GGY by 17%, amounting to £116 million.
In conclusion, as the gambling industry continues to navigate through ever-changing landscapes and regulatory challenges, the extended MoU between the UK Gambling Commission and Sweden’s Spelinspektionen signifies a steadfast commitment to fostering a safe and sustainable gambling environment through international cooperation and shared expertise. The latest figures also highlight the varying trends and dynamics within the industry, serving as a basis for regulatory decisions in the coming year.
