Swedish Audit Office Highlights Deficiencies in Gambling Consumer Protection Measures

The Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO) has published a critical report asserting that Sweden's current responsible gambling (RG) and consumer protection framework is insufficient. The oversight body highlights an alarming increase in gambling-related problems, particularly among vulnerable populations like young people and children, indicating an urgent need for stronger protective measures.

In response, the SNAO has called upon the Public Health Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare to develop a new, coordinated framework. This initiative aims to integrate knowledge and efforts across various sectors to better safeguard at-risk individuals. The audit estimates that approximately 350,000 people in Sweden are experiencing some degree of gambling-related harm.

A key finding from the SNAO's review is that existing governmental knowledge support inadequately addresses the practical guidance needs of municipalities and healthcare providers. These local entities require better tools to effectively detect, prevent, and treat gambling problems within their communities. The report advocates for localizing efforts, assigning more responsibility for early detection and prevention. It specifically suggests that the Public Health Agency craft empirically-backed guidelines for municipalities, prioritizing the protection of children and young people from gambling harms.

Matej Novota, Head of Casino Research at Casino Guru, expressed support for the report's methodology. He welcomed the SNAO's "empirical approach," emphasizing that effective consumer protection should be built on evidence rather than "blanket solutions." Novota underscored the value of tailored, data-driven strategies for vulnerable demographics and proposed examining cross-jurisdictional experiences to identify optimal harm minimization practices.

The SNAO's statement further attributed the lack of effective operational support to insufficient scientific research underpinning current safeguards. Consequently, the report advises the National Board of Health and Welfare to issue recommendations to social services and healthcare operations for detecting and treating gambling issues in children and young people. It also proposes integrating gambling problem recommendations into national guidelines for abuse and addiction, thereby enhancing the visibility and effectiveness of comprehensive addiction work.

These critical findings surface amidst ongoing discussions regarding iGaming regulation in Sweden. Recent proposals, such as tighter restrictions on high-risk products like certain casino games due to their perceived link to higher addiction rates, have been debated. However, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling has voiced criticism, arguing that singling out specific verticals could inadvertently empower the black market by eroding the competitiveness of regulated operators. Parallel enforcement efforts saw Swedish authorities, with assistance from Spanish police and Europol, dismantle an illegal gambling operation in December, signaling broader vigilance against illicit activities.