Proposal for Increased Resources for Work Against Match-Fixing and Illegal Gambling
Stockholm, Sweden (September 14, 2023) — The gambling market must not be abused for criminal activities. The government therefore proposes an increase in the Gambling Inspectorate’s allocation in the budget bill for 2024 by SEK 10.8 million to strengthen supervision of the gambling market and expand the work against illegal gambling activities and match-fixing. In order for this to happen as effectively as possible, the Gambling Authority needs to expand its cooperation with the Financial Supervisory Authority.
Illegal gambling and match-fixing are sources of income for criminal networks, and players in the gambling market are considered to be at high risk of money laundering. During the past year, the government has taken several measures to strengthen Swedish gambling regulation, in order to, among other things, create better conditions for closing out unlicensed gambling activities and to counteract match-fixing.
– There must be strong consumer protection in the gaming market. With this investment, Spelinspektionen can sharpen supervision. In addition, the cooperation with the Financial Supervisory Authority can open up new opportunities to block payment mediation to and from illegal actors, something that can play an important role in the work to combat criminal activity, says Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wykman.
A fundamental prerequisite for the credibility of sport is that sport is characterized by pure play.
– Fixed sports competitions and other forms of match-fixing are against the fundamental values of sport and are a serious threat to the future of sport. Reinforcement of the Spelinspektionen’s work contributes to protecting Swedish sports from being undermined by organized crime, says Sports Minister Jakob Forssmed.
The government therefore intends to propose an increase in the Gambling Inspectorate’s allocation in the budget bill for 2024 by SEK 10.8 million in 2024. The government also estimates that the Gambling Authority will receive SEK 15.6 million for 2025 and SEK 18.6 million in 2026. The allocation is also increased with the aim of The Swedish Gaming Authority is to become such a national platform as is required to meet the requirements of the Council of Europe’s convention on the manipulation of results in sports, the so-called Macolin Convention.
The government also intends to propose an increase in the Financial Supervisory Authority’s allocation by SEK 4.5 million starting in 2024 to strengthen the authority’s supervisory work and cooperation with the Gambling Authority in order to block payment mediation to and from illegal gambling operations.
The proposal is based on an agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats.
SOURCE: Regeringskansliet.
