Spelpaus, the Swedish gambling self-exclusion register operated by the Spelinspektionen, has reached the milestone of over 100,000 people actively using the service.
Originally launched on 1 January 2019, Spelpaus was part of the relaunched gambling sector which focused on responsible gaming.
The service allows for immediate self-exclusion, with shutdown periods of one month, three or six months, or an indefinite period with a minimum term of 12 months.
This suspension will apply to all games and services that are considered gambling, including casinos, bingo, lotteries, racetracks and Casino Cosmopol.
Once put in place, the suspension cannot be undone or terminated prematurely, as is industry standard for self-exclusion lists.
A spokesperson for the Spelinspektionen announced on social media earlier that: “The number of people who have chosen to exclude themselves from gambling via Spelpaus.se continues to increase.
“In recent days, the number of suspended people has been over 100,000.”
In 2022, the number of users actively using the service reached 80,000, which triggered the Swedish Government to examine the effectiveness of the service earlier this year.
As well as supporting people experiencing harmful gambling behaviours, the Spelpaus service also provides services to relatives.
These include a free support line, which can provide both guidance and a referral to a local support service or healthcare system.
Earlier this month, the Spelinspektionen Swedish Gaming Authority travelled to the UK, visiting both Sportradar and the Gambling Commission.
