Swedish Players Struggle to Discern Legitimate Gambling Services from Illicit Ones
In the ever-evolving world of online gambling, understanding the legal landscape is crucial. This article provides an overview of the current situation in Germany and Sweden, focusing on licensing, awareness, and trends.
In Germany, recognising a licensed gambling provider can be aided by looking for certain indicators. The imprint or terms of service of a legal German provider should clearly state that a valid German license is present. Moreover, official German gambling providers display the logo of the Joint Gaming Authority of the States or a reference to the Gaming State Treaty. These providers are also connected to the national blocking system OASIS.
The Joint Gaming Authority of the States maintains an official whitelist of legal providers in Germany, known as the "Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) Whitelist." This whitelist serves as a reliable resource for identifying legitimate online gambling providers in the country.
However, it's not always immediately clear whether an online gambling provider is legal in Germany. Serious sites target German players with German language, Euro currency, and local support, but the absence of these indicators does not necessarily mean a provider is illegal.
In Sweden, the Swedish Gaming Authority (Spelinspektionen) conducted a survey in November 2024 involving 1,644 people, of whom 1,164 had played in the past 12 months. The survey revealed that 72% of the Swedish gamblers could not distinguish between licensed and illegal providers.
The Swedish government aims to channel 90% of gambling activities to licensed providers, but the current channelization rate is only between 69% and 82%. Awareness of the importance of a license is growing, with 42% naming it as an important criterion when choosing a provider, compared to 28% the previous year.
Interestingly, while awareness of the national self-exclusion platform Spelpaus.se stands at 60%, only 6% of respondents have actually used it. Among those who have self-excluded from gambling, 63% cited excessive gaming and 36% constant exposure to gambling advertising as the main reasons.
The main reason for gaming among Swedes remains entertainment (69%), followed by the hope of big wins (40%). Young people in Sweden seem to place little value on legality, with only 27% of 18-19 year-olds preferring licensed providers, compared to 52% of those over 65.
The Swedish Gaming Association, BOS, has called for state measures to provide licensed providers with more attractive framework conditions. This call comes as the horse racing betting provider AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) reported a decline in its operations, which could be attributed to the increasing competition from unlicensed providers.
Transparent player protection measures such as deposit limits, panic buttons, session timers, or reality checks are legally prescribed for German providers. These measures aim to ensure a safer and more responsible gaming environment for players.
In conclusion, while the landscape of online gambling in Germany and Sweden is complex, efforts are being made to ensure a safer and more transparent environment for players. Awareness of the importance of licensing is growing, and initiatives are being taken to provide licensed providers with more attractive framework conditions. As always, it's essential for players to do their due diligence and verify the legitimacy of any online gambling provider they choose to engage with.
