Key points:
- The Swedish Gambling Authority has explained how it's improving operations following scrutiny from the National Audit Office
- The Authority used increased funding to increase human resources
- Investigators are focused on tackling money laundering alongside local law enforcement
Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, has submitted a report explaining how it has continued to fight against gambling-related crime.
Within the last few years, the Spelinspektionen was granted additional resources, including funding, with the condition that it submitted a full report by 31 March 2025 explaining how it was developing a safer gambling ecosystem.
Following this, the Authority increased human resources to “strengthen and develop supervision in several different areas,” including preventative supervision and inspections.
Spelinspektionen also explained that a number of measures have already been taken and additional initiatives will be introduced in the future.
Since Spelinspektionen began working closer with law enforcement authorities, the teams can focus resources where suspected or actual money laundering is taking place.
Earlier this year, the Swedish National Audit Office released a report concluding that Spelinspektionen was not meeting expectations set by the Riksdag and the Government during the 2019 re-regulation of the gambling market.
In this latest report, Spelinspektionen explained: “With the re-regulation, the Authority received several new tasks and areas of responsibility in a short time.
“Since the re-regulation, two reforms, as well as a number of minor changes to the law have also been implemented in the gaming area.
“The Gaming Authority’s operations have therefore been, and continue to be, in constant development since the beginning.”
The report then goes on to explain that the Authority has “continuously” developed its supervisory methodology, but due to lack of resources, the Authority had a limited scope of what was possible.
Good to know: According to Spelinspektionen, around two-thirds of unlicensed play happens at casinos that do not market toward Swedish players
To streamline operations, Spelinspektionen has begun developing a uniform process for risk analysis, increased supervisory efforts to check licences and inspect operators.
The Authority is also preparing for new EU regulations regarding money laundering, which will come into effect in 2027.
As per the report, some of the priorities for Spelinspektionen include identifying illegal vs unlicensed casinos, establishing a platform to share information regarding potential match-fixing, fighting organised crime and limiting opportunities for money laundering.
