BOS invites you to a lunch seminar in Stockholm on May 23rd. We delve into the Dutch gambling market, as a deterrent example. More than half of the gambling market there is now illegal, according to their gambling authority KSA. What should Sweden do (and not do) to avoid ending up where the Netherlands is today? 2i4w6a
Welcome! Whether you understand Swedish or not, we dare to promise an exciting seminar.
using the attached Swedish-language registration form or, if you are English-speaking, directly to [email protected]
]]>The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has appointed Myntet Ltd as new member of the association. Myntet operates on the Swedish Gambling market under the trademark Klirr.com. Myntet Ltd holds a Swedish gambling license.
This is the third gambling company within a week to become new member of BOS.
“We are so happy to welcome Myntet Ltd to BOS. Myntet is run by entrepreneurs who have established one successful gambling company after another in the Swedish gambling market. BOS is inspired by the entrepreneurial ability of the founders, and it is important that entrepreneurship and innovation are enabled within the Swedish licensing system. We look forward to working with those parts of the gambling market even more in the future.
With the election of Myntet Ltd, BOS also notes three new within a single week. It is a hat-trick that gives energy for current and future challenges in the Swedish gambling market”, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general, BOS.
“We see the strength in speaking with one single voice from the industry towards the gambling authority, the government and other important stakeholders in the gambling market. We are happy to contribute to this through our hip in BOS”, says Johan Königslehner, Myntet Ltd.
]]>The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has appointed SkillOnNet Ltd as new member of the association. SkillOnNet holds 12 licenses across the world and operates on the Swedish Gambling market under severaltrademarks, among them multiple awards winning online casino PlayOJO and Casino RedKings. SkillOnNet Ltd holds a Swedish gambling license.
SkillOnNet is the second gambling company within a week to become a member of BOS.
“Whether the gambling market in Sweden will be sustainable in the long term or not will largely be determined by whether the industry succeeds in speaking with a united voice. Then both authorities and legislators listen. If we are to succeed in this, we must represent as many licensed gambling companies as possible. It is therefore with great pleasure that I note that SkillOnNet has been accepted as the association’s latest member. I am sure that we will have a fruitful exchange between them and the association, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general, BOS.
“We are delighted to BOS, which will enable us to play a part in shaping the future of the Swedish gambling market. At SkillOnNet, we are committed to providing a safe, responsible, and entertaining gaming experience whileing a well-regulated industry. Collaboration between operators, regulators, and policymakers is key to ensuring a healthy market that benefitsboth players and operators alike. We really look forward to working alongsideBOS and its to help drive positive developments in the Swedish online gaming sector, says Maor Nutkevitch, Head of Corporate Development, SkillOnNet.
]]>BetConstruct is proud to announce its hip in the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS). As a leading technology and gaming solutions provider, BetConstruct continues to reinforce its commitment to a sustainable and well-regulated gambling market in Sweden, with its B2C brand VBET operating under a Swedish gambling licence.
“Becoming a member of BOS marks an important milestone for BetConstruct,” says Shacke Manukyan, Head of Compliance at BetConstruct. “This hip allows us to collaborate with key industry stakeholders to promote responsible gaming, innovation, and a fair competitive environment in Sweden. We look forward to contributing our expertise and working together to shape the future of the Swedish gambling industry.”
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS, welcomed BetConstruct’s hip, stating, “We are all delighted to welcome BetConstruct to the BOS family. BOS brings together the major international gambling companies in the Swedish gambling market. BetConstruct’s importance in Sweden has increased in recent years and we look forward to taking part in their commitment. Thanks to BetConstruct, we are also strengthening the association’s expertise not only in the business to consumer area, but also as a game supplier.”
BetConstruct remains dedicated to innovation, responsible gaming, and delivering top-quality entertainment to Swedish players. This collaboration with BOS marks another step in our ongoing efforts to contribute to the Swedish gaming industry’s growth and integrity.
]]>The government today announces that it is taking the initiative to review the Gambling Act. BOS – the Swedish Online Gambling Industry Association – welcomes the Government’s initiative, with the aim of criminalizing unlicensed gambling companies that accept Swedish gambling consumers. Today, this procedure is legal as long as the unlicensed gambling company avoids Swedish markers, such as using the Swedish currency or the Swedish language. Since many Swedes feel comfortable using the euro and the English language, the Gambling Act has not succeeded in defending the gambling market against unlicensed gambling companies to a sufficient extent.
A state investigator has been appointed who will present his proposal no later than September 17 of this year.
“We have advocated an amendment to the Gambling Act in this regard ever since the reregulation of the Swedish gambling market in 2019. It became apparent fairly immediately after the reregulation that the gambling license market was leaking like a sieve. This was partly because many unlicensed gambling companies were able to continue to accept Swedish gambling customers, as long as they avoided the Swedish language and the use of Swedish currency. The day before yesterday, we reminded the Government of this in a letter, and now we are being listened to. It is very welcome”, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS Secretary General.
BOS’s letter to the government is available here
The government’s press release is available here
]]>BOS – the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – has today written to the Swedish Ministry of Finance with a request to amend the Gambling Act.
It is currently perfectly legal for unlicensed gambling companies and their subcontractors to accept Swedish gambling consumers as long as the companies avoid using the Swedish language and Swedish currency. This loophole has led to a massive influx of unlicensed gambling offers into the Swedish gambling market.
The reason this has happened is because the Government changed the application of the Gambling Act compared to how the proposal was originally presented by the Gambling License Investigation, the investigation that then formed the basis for the new Gambling Act and the Swedish reregulation in 2019. The Gambling License Investigation wanted to criminalize companies in general that lack a Swedish gambling license that still accept Swedish gambling consumers.
BOS is writing to the Ministry of Finance today with a request that the Government take the initiative to amend the Gambling Act in favor of the Gambling License Investigation’s original proposal.
“Unlicensed gambling should be eliminated in Sweden. It is completely inadequate that around a quarter of all gambling is unlicensed, not least given the total absence of consumer protection on the black gambling market. If we are to succeed in eliminating this part of the gambling market, the Gambling Act must be amended and all unlicensed gambling must be criminalized,” says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS.
The letter to the Ministry of Finance is attached here
]]>Money laundering is a threat in all sectors of society where money is present, including the gambling sector. The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) is therefore today presenting two initiatives related to money laundering.
Firstly, BOS presents an AML (Anti Money Laundering) checklist with bullet points that BOS recommends that online gambling companies on the Swedish gambling market follow. The purpose is to reach the highest possible standard in the work against money laundering, in regards to authorities and society in general.
Secondly, BOS presents in collaboration with the consulting agency Advisense a report on money laundering and the Swedish online gambling market. The report is based on interviews with BOS member companies and contains concrete proposals for improved AML work in the gambling sector, for gambling companies as well as banks and authorities. For example, with inspiration taken from the banking sector, the establishment of a Swedish Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Task Force between the gambling industry and the Financial Police is proposed.
“Today we take this comprehensive approach to the problem of money laundering. The purpose is to make visible how the work against money laundering in the gambling industry can be improved. We present our report and checklist completely openly, so that even a gambling company that is not a member of BOS can use the material, if they so wish. We all win from that.”, says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.
BOS’s AML checklist and Advisense’s report are attached to this press release.
]]>In a memorandum from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Swedish Government has proposed that Sweden sign and ratify the so-called Macolin Convention. This convention regulates the cooperation of the member states of the Council of Europe in the work against match-fixing.
The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) welcomes such a g and at the same time wants to point out that private and listed gambling companies must also have access to the bodies within the Council of Europe that are responsible for the issue, the so-called Group of Copenhagen and above all its Follow-up Committee.
Today, only full access is given to state betting companies, despite the majority of the Swedish, European and global sports betting market taking place with private or listed betting companies. Excluding the latter means a serious setback in the t work against match-fixing.
“We welcome Sweden’s g of the Macolin Convention. At the same time, it must be emphasized that it is outdated and unjustifiable to exclude licensed privately owned and listed gambling companies from the t work against match-fixing. We urge Sweden to push for a change, so that all licensed gambling companies get full access to all the Council of Europe’s bodies on the matter, not just the state-owned gambling companies,” says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.
The BOS reply is attached here
The memo from the Ministry of Social Affairs is published here (in Swedish)
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The National Audit Office has commissioned an investigation into the Swedish Gambling Authority’s supervision of the Swedish gambling market. The result was published today in a report that is published on the National Audit Office’s website.
The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) agrees with the National Audit Office’s recommendation that a review of the Gambling Act’s so-called scope of application should take place. The scope governs which unlicensed gambling companies are illegal. Not all unlicensed gambling companies are, according to the current scope, illegal. Typically, unlicensed gambling companies that offer their games in the English language and in the euro currency are legal. Only unlicensed gambling companies that use clear Swedish markers, such as the Swedish language on the website, Swedish-speaking customer service and Swedish krona as currency, are defined as illegal. All other unlicensed gambling companies can continue to sell their games to the Swedish gambling market, with the of the Gambling Act.
“That today’s gambling legislation allows such extensive parts of the gambling market to operate without a license is unsustainable. In front of both the current and previous governments, we have advocated an expansion of the Gambling Act’s scope of application. In this way, it would become generally illegal for gambling companies that lack a Swedish gambling license to accept Swedish gambling consumers, and as a consequence these companies must geoblock Sweden. It is very welcome that the National Audit Office reasons in a similar way in the report published today,” says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General, BOS.
The section on the Gambling Act’s scope of application can be found in the report’s chapter 5.4, “The Gambling Act’s current scope of application complicates the work against illegal gambling”
There is also a summary in English in the report.
]]>The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, BOS, has commissioned the consulting firm Advisense to conduct a unique survey among its member companies this fall to strengthen their work against money laundering and terrorist financing.
The online gambling market in Europe is estimated to 100 billion euros and is rapidly growing due to increased internet usage, smartphones, and new platforms for gaming and betting. With this growth new risks emerge. Challenges are reflected in recent sanctions by supervisory authorities focusing on the need for risk assessment, enhanced customer due diligence, adequate controls and monitoring.
“The gambling market should be a place for joy, entertainment, and excitement—and the occasional big win. Criminal activities must be eradicated. Our tolerance for money laundering in the gaming industry is zero. Together with Advisense, we are now setting a spotlight on ourselves to identify how we can improve our work against money laundering,” says Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS—The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling.
“The AML State of Play survey will be an important step to strengthen the ongoing efforts. Online gambling is a high-risk industry for money laundering and terrorist financing both internationally and in Sweden. Extensive measures have already been taken since the Swedish gambling industry was regulated in 2019. The ability to share collective expertise and exchange experiences from both the gaming and financial industries will be of great significance going forward,” says Christine Enström, Managing Director & Head of Financial Services at Advisense.
The results of the survey will be communicated by BOS later this autumn.
The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling—BOS—represents gaming companies and developers of online games targeting Swedish consumers. The association was founded in 2012 to represent the industry in Sweden and abroad.
Advisense is a market-leading expert firm in Europe specializing in governance, risk, and compliance, offering cutting-edge advisory services and tech solutions. Since 2008, Advisense has grown to 450 employees based in Bergen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Malmö, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, and Vilnius.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General
[email protected]
Tel: +46 708 18 28 21
Louise Brown, Director Financial Crime Prevention, Advisense
[email protected]
Tel: +46 721 782970