12 CEOs back the petition

Twelve CEOs of gambling companies that are licensed in Sweden have signed a petition addressed to Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi.

The open letter was published by the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) on April 30 in protest of the increasing restrictions being placed on licensees amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Operators issued a warning, stating:

If players leave, the companies follow suit.”

Those backing the petition to date are Pontus Lindwall (Betsson), Henrik Tj?rnstr?m (Kindred Group), Gustaf Hagman (Group CEO LeoVegas), Therese Hillman (NetEnt), Ulrik Bengtsson (Group CEO William Hill), Lahcene Merzoug (ComeOn Group), Henric Andersson (Suprnation), Tomas B?ckman (Hero Gaming), Alexander Stevendahl (Videoslots), Daniel Lindberg (Quickspin), Shelly Suter-Hadad (Casumo), and Anthony Werkman (Betway).

More operators encouraged to sign

BOS secretary general Gustaf Hoffstedt estimates that the list of CEOs that have signed the petition represents about half of the entire regulated gambling market in Sweden. He said:

The licensing system is fragile and can’t endure further attacks from the Minister.”

Hoffstedt is now calling on other gambling company CEOs to put their name down, whether or not they are a member of the trade association. He wants companies to stand by this petition once they are a licensed operator in the Swedish market.

Unrealistic restrictions

Minister Shekarabi proposed the restrictions in question to help protect vulnerable individuals during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The new measures impose strict limits on deposits at online gambling sites.?Gambling companies believe that all these constraints might achieve would be to further drive gamblers away from licensed platforms.