On Thursday, Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi (S) presented a series of measures to reduce consumers' risks in the gaming market in corona times.

But the effect is likely to be the opposite, according to Gustaf Hoffstedt, director general of the Online Gaming Association, which represents more than 20 online gaming companies with operations in Sweden.

- I react with surprise and consternation. All of these regulations, which may have honest ambitions to strengthen consumer protection, drive players away from the licensed gaming market.

Among other things, the government proposes a deposit limit for a gaming account of SEK 5,000 a week. A measure players will easily be able to round, Hoffstedt says.

- As I understand it is not a total boundary, but the players will jump around to different gaming companies, which in itself is bad for consumer protection.

So illegal actors should be stopped

Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi (S) says that the measures now proposed must be combined with special measures to keep away those companies that do not have a license.

- Therefore, the Gaming Inspectorate is tasked with both acting and taking action against them. But also come back if additional tools are needed to keep illegal gamers away from the Swedish market. 

"Wild West 2.0"

The Swedish gaming market was re-regulated in 2019 when a new gaming team and a licensing system were introduced, with the aim of strengthening consumer protection. According to Gustaf Hoffstedt, the government's proposed measures now risk causing the whole system to fail.

- Maybe some measures are needed to make it go that far, but now we are about to create a "wild west 2.0" in the gaming market, and this is done in the name of consumer protection.

Do you see no point in the government taking action in the corona crisis?

- I would argue that it is particularly important during the covid-19 crisis to maximize the gambling in the Swedish licensing system. Now you are introducing measures that may look good on paper, but which have the opposite effect, says Gustaf Hoffstedt.