Riksrevisionen, the Swedish National Audit Office, has begun an audit of Spelinspektionen to assess if the regulator’s authority over the country’s gambling market is effective.
Sweden’s gambling market underwent a significant change in November 2022, after the Riksdag, the country’s highest decision-making assembly, ordered all B2B gambling companies to have a licence with Spelinspektionen by July 1, 2023, in order to operate.
Since then, the number of companies which the Swedish regulator manages has increased, as it currently stands at approximately 600 licence and permit holders.
A series of measures were also introduced by the Riksdag back in May to help foster a healthier and safer gambling market.
Riksrevisionen highlighted how all operators in the country required a licence when the Swedish gambling market was re-regulated in 2019 with the aim to “regain control of the gambling market, increase channelisation and protect Swedish consumers”.
In addition, the audit office said that due to the legislation changes being relatively new, there is also “a lack of practice”, hence the audit.
The audit will be conducted in two phases – a preparatory phase where the audit will be designed and planned out, followed by a secondary phase where information will be gathered and analysed.
Riksrevisionen’s review of Spelinspektionen is scheduled to be published in September 2024.
