The Swedish Gambling Authority has developed a new guide for operators

The Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) is working on a care document aimed at strengthening consumer protection in the licensed market.

In accordance with the Swedish Gambling Act, licensed operators must ensure that social and health considerations are respected in their respective gambling operations.

This is to protect gamblers from over-gambling and to help them reduce gambling when necessary, and is collectively referred to as the duty of care.

The SGA is currently developing a document clarifying the duties and responsibilities of operators.

Licensees are expected to provide the SGA with an action plan detailing how the duty of care will be met.

Similar care obligation documents exist in many other European markets, including the UK, under the Gambling Commission's licensing code of practice.

The Dutch Gaming Authority has also issued its own cautionary guidelines.

Groups representing the SGA, the Swedish Public Health Authority and gambling addiction associations all contributed to the development of this care guide, as well as representatives from the Swedish gambling industry.

Gambling-related harms remain a controversial topic in the Swedish licensed market after the government's decision to impose temporary restrictions on online casino games to curb the perceived rise in gambling during the pandemic.

The measures, which include limits on deposits and limits on bonuses, have been widely denounced by operators due to potential losses in moving into the unlicensed Swedish market.

Earlier this month, the Swedish government initiated a consultation process to extend these temporary measures from June 2021 until November as Sweden grapples with the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.