Standing the test of time? Gambling trends, prevention and regulationsCurrent challenges in Sweden

Dr Ulla Romild, National Institute of Public Health, Sweden

Concordia University, Montreal, October 16th, 2018

Gambling participation is going down in Sweden

70 %

60 %

Net Revenue is going up

…and in particular the online gambling

A minority of the gamblers spends the major sum of the total revenue

Moderate risk/gambling problem gamblers stake 75% of the total revenue on casino games

Online gamblers spend more money thanlandline only gamblers

Slight increase of more serious problems

Gambling problems most common amongteenagers in the late 1990:s

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

16-17years

18-19years

20-24years

25-29years

30-34years

35-39years

40-44years

45-49years

50-54years

55-59years

60-64years

65-69years

70-74years

1997/1998

Gambling problems among minors reducedwithin 10 years

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

16-17years

18-19years

20-24years

25-29years

30-34years

35-39years

40-44years

45-49years

50-54years

55-59years

60-64years

65-69years

70-74years

1997/1998 2008/2009

The reduction among minors continued – butwhat happened among 30-34 year olds?

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

16-17years

18-19years

20-24years

25-29years

30-34years

35-39years

40-44years

45-49years

50-54years

55-59years

60-64years

65-69years

70-74years

1997/1998 2008/2009 2015

Gambling online is related to higher prevalenceof gambling problems in most gambling forms

2%

3%

3%

6%

6%

7%

5%

4%

3%

3%

10%

8%

11%

21%

19%

24%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Lotteries

Numbergames

Horses

Sports

Bingo *

EGMs *

Poker *

Casinogames *

Gambled online Landbased only

• The Lotteries Act (1994)

– defines a lottery as the drawing of lottery tickets, betting, bingo

games, slot machines, roulette games as well as card games

• The Casinos Act (1999)

– Special legislation for casino gaming with international gaming rules

• The Act concerning certain forms of gaming machines(1982)

Present regulation

1997/98

Prevalancestudy

2001 International

casinos

2003 Government

mission to the Public Health Agency on gambling

Timeline gambling policy

2019New Gambling Act introducinga licence system for online gambling

2018Problem gambling included in the Social Services Act. Government mission on gambling to The ConsumerAgency and the County Board

2016New governmentalmissions to the Public Health Agency and the National Board ofHealth and Welfare

2006Internet poker on state ownedSvenska spel

2008National inquiryon the gambling market

Pros Cons

The major part of the gamblingmarket may be regulated

New gambling forms on the market

Gambling operators are requiredto protect their gamblers from excessive gambling

Bonuses may be offered

A general self exclusion system Risk of increased gambling problems

The renewed Gambling Authority will get new and moreforceful tools

A public health perspective on the new legislation

1) To identify possible fields of cooperation through exchange of information

2) To coordinate knowledge support supporting effective and knowledge-based work at national, regional and local level

3) To contribute to monitoring of factors relevant for the gambling problems

National coordination - aims

Agencies included in the coordination at national level

Public Health Agency

National Board of Health and Welfare

The Swedish Gaming Authority

The County Board

Swedish Enforcement Agency

The Swedish Consumer Agency

The Swedish National Agency for Education

Swedish Association of Local Authoritiesand Regions

Swedish Agency for Technological Assessmentand Assessmentof Social Services

The Swedish Prison and Probation Service

The Swedish National Board of Institutional Care

Relevance 2016

Swedish Enforcement Agency

The Swedish Consumer Agency

The Swedish National Agency for Education

Swedish Association ofLocal Authorities and Regions

Swedish Agency for Technological Assessmentand Assessmentof Social Services

The Swedish Prison and Probation Service

The Swedish National Board of Institutional Care

The County Board

Relevance 2018

Changing landscape

•Changes in the Social Services Act (2018)

•Changes in the Health Care Act (2018)

A changing landscape – Why?