Key points:
- Sweden proposes to sign and ratify the Macolin Convention on match-fixing
- Industry group BOS welcomes the move but raises concerns about the exclusion of private gambling companies
- BOS calls for reforms to allow all licensed operators access to the Convention's oversight bodies
The Swedish Government's proposal to sign and ratify the Council of Europe's Macolin Convention, which aims to regulate international cooperation in combating match-fixing, has received a mixed response from the country's gambling industry.
The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), which represents 18 licensed gambling operators in the Swedish market, has welcomed the move – however, the organisation has simultaneously raised concerns about the current structure of the Convention's oversight bodies, which it believes unfairly excludes private and listed gambling companies.
Under the current framework, only state-owned betting companies are granted full access to the Convention's key decision-making bodies, such as the Group of Copenhagen and its Follow-up Committee.
This, according to BOS, is a "serious setback" given that the majority of the Swedish, European and global sports betting market is dominated by private and publicly traded operators.
Commenting on this, Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, stated: "We welcome Sweden's signing of the Macolin Convention. At the same time, it must be emphasised that it is outdated and unjustifiable to exclude licensed privately owned and listed gambling companies from the joint work against match-fixing.
Good to know: BOS has also urged for a redefinition of "illegal sports betting" to enhance international cooperation
“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.”
The association also highlighted issues with the Convention's definition of "illegal sports betting," which it believes is outdated and can hinder international cooperation against match-fixing.
BOS argues that this definition conflicts with EU case law, which allows licensed operators in one EU state to accept customers from another, even without a local license.
