The shortcomings of the Swedish Gambling Authority have been laid bare by a report conducted by the National Auditor’s Office.
This comprehensive audit revealed a lack of vital resources and expertise within the organisation, which resulted in a struggle implementing staunch gambling regulations.
Quoted in the report, National Auditor Helena Lindberg stated, “The Swedish Gambling Authority has been given a comprehensive and difficult task, but it has been poorly equipped several times over to enforce it.”
This quote underscored the key findings in the audit, which underlined the regulation’s struggle to curb illegal gambling and accomplish enforcement goals.
According to the report, the authority failed to develop preemptive measures, contributing to the rise of unlicensed gambling operations.
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In addition, the lack of concrete outcomes to enforce regulations was deemed to be a significant deficit in the authority’s efficiency.
The report pointed out that the failings are primarily due to the lack of knowledge and resources to handle the comprehensive task at hand.
The National Auditor stated, “The authority lacks the expertise to take on its comprehensive responsibilities, and there is a risk that it will not achieve its overriding objectives.”
It further highlighted that the authority was ineffective in supporting those with gambling addiction, mainly because it didn’t contribute enough to research and treatment.
The duty to support these addicts is seen as a shared responsibility between the state, municipal governments, and counties, with the auditor cautioning that the system could collapse without sufficient resources and expertise.
Interestingly, Sweden’s gaming market is one of the largest in the European Union. According to data from H2 Gambling Capital, the country generated around EUR 1.418 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2020.
However, it is also one of the most regulated markets, with the national regulator enforcing strict rules to protect consumers from gambling-related harm.