jili tutorial

BOS Calls on Spelinspektionen to Revisit Proposed Gambling Regulations

By jili tutorial · September 2, 2026

BOS Calls on Spelinspektionen to Revisit Proposed Gambling Regulations

Sweden’s Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has urged the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) to reconsider several proposed regulatory changes. In a statement sent to SBC News, Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS, acknowledged the regulator’s proactive efforts to modernise Sweden’s responsible gambling framework and technology infrastructure. However, he stressed that certain draft provisions remain unclear and require revision.

BOS Seeks Clarity in Player-Operator Engagement

BOS recommends building greater clarity throughout the entire chain of interaction between operators and players. The trade association is calling for a cohesive, evidence-based rulebook on safer gambling practices.

Concerns Over Nighttime Play as a Risk Indicator

One of the first issues raised by BOS is Spelinspektionen’s proposal to treat play between midnight and 6 a.m. as a potential marker of gambling harm. BOS described this as “arbitrary” and lacking empirical support. The association noted that certain forms of gambling, such as sports betting, naturally occur overnight due to international event schedules. Automatically labelling such activity as high-risk, they argued, is objectively unreasonable.

Financial Activity Metrics Need Refinement

Another area of concern is Spelinspektionen’s proposed method for detecting problem gambling through financial account activity. The regulator suggests that the difference between a player’s stakes and winnings can serve as a useful indicator for operators to identify harmful play.

BOS counters that a high stakes-to-winnings ratio could be misleading. Winnings are often reinvested into continued play rather than representing out-of-pocket losses. Instead, BOS recommends using deposits and withdrawals as the primary marker of gambling harm, with stakes and winnings serving as supplementary indicators to measure play intensity.

Optimising Guidelines for Operators

Account Suspensions Should Be Proportionate

Spelinspektionen has proposed mandatory account suspension when a licensee cannot reliably confirm that a player has received feedback about potentially harmful behaviour. BOS argues that forced suspension could be disproportionate in individual cases, particularly if a player’s behaviour has already improved by the time communication is re-established.

BOS suggests making passive confirmations the standard. Under this approach, proof of feedback could be established by verifying that the player has seen a written communication, or by tracking whether account activity has improved.

Mental Health Assessments Require Careful Handling

Under the draft proposals, operators would also be expected to intervene if a player “shows signs of mental illness or expresses a perceived excessive gambling behaviour during contact with the licensee.” BOS points out that customer service staff are not medically qualified to detect signs of mental illness. They recommend that conclusions be limited to concrete statements voluntarily made by players during support interactions.

Inactivity Timer Change Lacks Scientific Basis

Spelinspektionen has proposed reducing the automatic inactivity logout timer from two hours (as proposed in 2022) to one hour. BOS claims this change is not backed by scientific evidence. It would also frustrate players who remain logged in to monitor live events in real time. Moreover, the association warns that forcing frequent re-logins could distort risk-monitoring systems.

Call for a Working Group to Avoid Regulatory Friction

To improve future decision-making, BOS has proposed establishing a working group composed of operators, aid organisations, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders. This group would exchange practical knowledge about risk indicators, discuss how to approach different risk profiles, and evaluate the best methods for strengthening consumer protection without creating unnecessary obstacles for players who show no signs of risk.

Hoffstedt added: “For the regulations to have the intended effect, they need to be clear, proportionate, technology-neutral and practically feasible. Strong player protection requires that the licensed market remains attractive to players without identified risk indicators. The focus should therefore be on proportionate and risk-based measures, with more intrusive interventions directed at those players who actually show signs of risky or excessive gambling.”