The latest report from the Swedish gambling regulatory authority Spelinspektionen shows that the channeling rate to the licensed market is expected to be 85% in 2024, a decrease of 1 percentage point from 86% in 2023.
The so-called "channeling rate" refers to the proportion of Swedish players gambling with licensed operators rather than unlicensed platforms. This estimate used a new methodology, combining a survey of 5,767 gamblers and monitoring of web traffic on 2,032 unlicensed gambling websites.
The regulatory authority specifically pointed out that there are significant differences in the channeling rates among different gambling sectors. The overall gambling market generally maintains a channeling rate between 92% and 96%, while online casinos are significantly lower, only between 72% and 82%. However, Spelinspektionen emphasized that the number of unlicensed operators actively targeting the Swedish market is limited.
Before the introduction of the current licensing system in 2019, Sweden's channeling rate was estimated to be less than 50%. Director General Camilla Rosenberg stated: "A channeling rate of 85% indicates that most gambling activities have entered the licensed system. Only a few unlicensed sites are still operating targeting Swedish users, and these sites have been identified as illegal gambling and banned."
Last month, Spelinspektionen just banned three unlicensed operators from providing services to Swedish players, including Liquid Entertainment NV registered in Curaçao, because its platform duelbits.com operated in the Swedish market without permission.
Meanwhile, the regulatory authority announced that it will continue to promote the "Your Future is Like a Bet" campaign, focusing on gambling risk education for the young group aged 18 to 25. This project is jointly conducted by the Swedish Public Health Agency and the Enforcement Agency and will be relaunched through digital channels and social media this autumn.
Rosenberg added: "Young people are the most sensitive group affected by gambling harm. We hope to intervene at critical moments to provide them with the necessary tools and awareness, helping them make more rational choices."
