Swedish trade association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) has said the new temporary gambling restrictions that have come into force have caused “chaos.”

BOS general secretary Gustaf Hoffstedt has called for the Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) to provide clarity on the new deposit limits, as gaming companies in the country interpret them differently.

The government introduced new temporary measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic that came into effect on 2 July until the end of the year, including a SEK 5,000 ($546) weekly deposit limit for online casino and slots.

Time limits on online casino and slots play were also introduced, with horse racing and sports betting exempt from the measures.

Hoffstedt referenced the criticism state-controlled operator ATG has received for how it has interpreted the regulation and reinforced his view that the measures were not based on facts.

He said: “Most of the gaming companies’ lawyers with whom I spoke are of the opinion that the regulation is unworked and poorly written, which has led players to interpret the regulation differently.

“We were many who warned that measures, which were not based on facts and thorough impact assessments, could lead to an aggravated situation for both the licensed companies and their customers.

“The chaos that the gaming industry, like other experts, warned of has now occurred. We are now in a situation where neither the private nor the state-controlled companies know how to act and it is obvious that different actors interpret the new regulation in different ways.

“The question is who really wins this besides the companies that are outside the licensing system?”