In Sweden, the government has reportedly released the details of long-awaited draft gambling legislation that would allow offshore online casino, bingo and sportsbetting operators to legally enter the market for the first time.
It has been sent to the European Commission for vetting purposes and intends keeping all land-based lotteries, casinos and gaming machines under the control of the state.
Foreign iGaming operators could begin the online gambling license application process as soon as March 20, but they only can launch their services for Sweden-based players at the early days of 2019.
Despite ending the online gambling monopoly currently enjoyed by state-owned firm Svenska Spel AB, Public Administration Minister Ardalan Shekarabi reportedly declared that the implementation of the proposed legislation would allow his nation to ‘regain control of the Swedish gambling market’.
This is purportedly because a study from the Lotteriinspektionen regulator recently found that a full one-quarter of the country’s current online gambling market is being controlled by operators licensed outside of Sweden.
