A new ban on gambling on credit

Azadeh Rojhan (S)

Madam Speaker! Gambling abuse and gambling addiction can, in many cases, have horrible consequences. It is about debts that grow rapidly, often in silence, until they have become completely unmanageable. It is about people who lose control over their finances, their health and, in the long run, their relationships.

For many, gambling addiction leads to anxiety, depression, and deep shame – a shame that causes one to withdraw and wait far too long before seeking help. It is human lives that are being ruined.

It is also for this reason that we Social Democrats welcome this proposal. Even though it is already forbidden to gamble on credit – there is a limited prohibition – the difference with this legislation is that we move from a narrow prohibition primarily aimed at the gambling companies' own credits to a broader responsibility, where credit-financed gambling as such shall be countered.

Simplified, gambling companies have until now not been allowed to lend money directly, but gambling has nevertheless been able to be financed with credit from third parties, for example from debit cards and credit cards. The extended ban is, we believe, a necessary adjustment given how the gambling market actually functions today. It corresponds to the increased digitalization of gambling. Today, gambling is available around the clock, often in environments designed to drive gambling forward through fast bets, bonuses, and reward systems.

A broader credit ban strengthens consumer protection, reduces the risk of rapid indebtedness, and breaks a central driver behind unhealthy gambling. It is an important step in the right direction to save more people from developing gambling addiction and being affected by its consequences.

Mr. Speaker, when we combat unhealthy gambling, we must ensure that the rules are directed at the forms of gambling where the risks are actually greatest. Here, the question of public benefit lotteries becomes central. Revenues from public benefit lotteries today constitute a significant funding source for non-profit activities that strengthen social cohesion, not least through efforts for children, young people, and vulnerable groups.

The public benefit lotteries differ clearly from commercial high-risk gambling. They often involve physical lotteries with a low risk profile, without the rapid accessibility, the aggressive marketing, and the credit link that characterize large parts of the online gambling market.

During the consultation process, organizations such as the Swedish Football Association, the Swedish Sports Confederation, Folkspel, and the Swedish Postcode Association have warned that the proposal as it stands today could hit their revenue opportunities hard – this is because the current wording that the Gambling Inspectorate shall grant exceptions in individual cases is far too vague. It creates uncertainty and unpredictability for the public benefit lotteries and for the operations that have such.

We Social Democrats share this assessment and believe that this must be taken most seriously. We mean that the current wording in the legislation is far too unclear and that it creates uncertainty.

For civil society, which often works with limited resources and needs long-term planning, clear and predictable rules are a prerequisite for stable operations. Moving forward, we will closely monitor and follow what consequences the proposal has for the public benefit lotteries.

Madam Speaker! We Social Democrats want to see strong protection against unhealthy gambling, especially among young people. We want to put a stop to credit-financed risk-taking that leads people into debt and vulnerability. We also want to safeguard the unique Swedish civil society, which builds community, creates trust, and carries out activities that in everyday life counteract exclusion, economic insecurity, and mental ill-health – just many of the factors that can lead to unhealthy gambling or become the consequences of it.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jan Riise (MP)

Madam Speaker! I am not directly used to standing here, but it is a bit unusual to stand here and speak for the Culture Committee. It so happens that the chairman of the Culture Committee, Mats Berglund, is in Eskilstuna, where he naturally should be because Folk och Kultur is taking place there right now. He probably has a massive schedule; I think he said something about eleven panels plus meetings. So it can work, and I had to take over this.

Madam Speaker! Gambling and lotteries are a significant and important part of the financing of Swedish sports and association life. One of the goals of the gambling policy that the Riksdag has established is precisely to provide good conditions for non-profit voluntary activities to obtain funding through revenues from gambling. That is how it has been for a long time, and Miljöpartiet would like to safeguard this form of financing for the non-profit organizations.

We have previously during the term seen how the Tidö government has intervened in the lottery legislation, primarily with the argument of countering indebtedness. This has been done despite the fact that the referral bodies are largely in agreement regarding the lotteries of the public benefit organizations, which usually involve small sums and rarely concern monetary winnings. There is now also always a clear protection against purchasing so many lotteries that either direct purchases or subscriptions in reality become a debt trap.

One can imagine that the Tidö parties' commitment to the issue lies somewhere other than precisely in the concern for consumers' indebtedness. The regulations against party-political lotteries, which we discussed some years ago, were probably more directed towards the financing of one of the opposition parties. This bill appears to be directed precisely at association life, the popular engagement, just like the recurring attacks against cultural life, folk education, and civil society that we have seen and heard throughout the entire mandate period.

The bill we are discussing today is therefore about introducing a ban on gambling on credit. Technically, the law does not target consumers but rather license holders and gambling operators. The law is an extension of current regulations and involves sharper formulations than the previous ones.

The law also means that the license holders and gambling operators must now also take appropriate measures to prevent gambling from being financed with credits. This naturally creates difficulties for the operators, as it could be Pressbyrån's gambling stores, tobacconists, and similar establishments that now need to take rapid measures in a relatively short period of time.

Here, on behalf of the chair, I would like to thank all the parties in the committee for that we have together succeeded in postponing the entry into force by two months, so that it now appears in the report that the legislative change shall enter into force on 1 May 2026. Miljöpartiet also stands behind this.

The problem with the legislation remains nonetheless. The proposal will make it even more difficult, and we believe that it is problematic especially for the non-profit organizations. Miljöpartiet therefore believes that games for non-profit purposes should be exempted from the ban on gambling on credit. The credit ban is a very blunt tool, which risks having disproportionately large negative consequences for Swedish association life, for civil society, and for all those non-profit organizations that today finance their activities to some extent through, among other things, lotteries.

It could be about the temperance movement's subscriptions to lotteries, the sports club's car bingo, or the local cultural association's lotteries on national day. This is a good way for the associations to strengthen their coffers. They can make themselves a bit freer when it comes to being able to expand their activities or perhaps finance a camp for the youth teams.

The regulatory change that the government and the Sweden Democrats are now proposing hits these associations hard, but – and this is important – it also stands clearly in conflict with the goal of the gambling policy to safeguard public benefit revenues from gambling.

There is a proposal in the bill that the Swedish Gambling Authority shall be able to allow exceptions in individual cases. We believe, however, that it is not sufficient. It creates an unnecessary uncertainty and an additional administrative burden for the associations and the public benefit organizations.

Miljöpartiet has previously argued for going in the opposite direction. Instead of making it more difficult and expensive for the public benefit associations to conduct lotteries, we want to simplify the existing regulatory framework. It has become difficult for the associations to conduct lotteries, bingo, and whatever it may be. It is expensive and associated with great economic risks and is also administratively cumbersome.

From the Green Party's side, we have submitted a motion to appoint an inquiry to resolve the complications. It should be the municipality and not the Gambling Inspectorate that carries out supervision, at least up to a certain level of turnover, perhaps 5 million over a five-year period.

The supervision fees have increased significantly. For a sports association, it can cost upwards of several tens of thousands of kronor to practically apply to have lotteries, and it is not even certain that the application will be granted. Spelinspektionen's requirements are unpredictable, and they set the fee levels themselves.

The level for how large the profits may be would also need to be adjusted upwards. Today it is a base amount, and it could be raised. This and much more is what we would like to review.

Madam Speaker! Miljöpartiet wants, in contrast to the four parties in the government basis, to make it easier and not more difficult for non-profit and public benefit activities to increase their own financing.

I therefore move for approval of the reservation that exists under point 2, and which happens to be the Green Party's in the report.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jonas Andersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! Today we are debating the Culture Committee's report A New Ban on Gambling on Credit. There we are addressing the government's bill of the same name. The Sweden Democrats support the proposals in the bill, and I therefore move for approval of the committee's proposal for a decision.

The gambling market was deregulated to a licensing system just over seven years ago. It is a deregulation that, for the most part, has been successful and which there has been a broad consensus around among the parties in the Riksdag.

For the Sweden Democrats, it has been important not to push through reforms that change the conditions too much on the gaming market for both the players and the companies. Predictability and clarity regarding what applies in the long term is important so that it does not become the Wild West on the market with unclear boundaries regarding what applies concerning, for example, marketing.

During the mandate period, the Riksdag has decided on a number of government bills that in different ways calibrate and implement necessary adjustments to the legislation concerning gambling. For example, consumer protection has been strengthened regarding the companies' possibilities to use personal data in order to fulfill the duty of care in order to protect the players.

Here, a decision was made to remove a number of exceptions in the gambling law that provided fast lanes for partisan lotteries, also an important reform to safeguard the legitimacy of the system in the eyes of the public and to move away from the legislation that the Social Democrats rigged for their own gain. It should not be possible for a political party, with the help of exceptions in the gambling law, to profit from society's most vulnerable, regardless of whether it happens from a call center in Barcelona or from elsewhere.

Madam Speaker! The proposals in the bill that we are debating today revolve around credit bans when it comes to gambling. The new regulation being proposed would broaden the principle that already exists that licensees and gambling operators may not offer or provide credits for gambling. In this way, we further strengthen consumer protection to counter destructive gambling and indebtedness in Swedish society. It is very positive.

Perhaps someone thinks that the expanded credit ban should have come earlier. That it is only now under the Tidö government that we will make decisions about it, and not when the red-greens were in power, one should not be surprised about. How harmful credit gambling can be, the Social Democrats and their lottery activities have shown very clearly over the years.

The Social Democrats' lottery activities were highlighted in the media a number of years ago for having sold lotteries on credit to those already in debt. They acted in such a way that thousands of Swedes ended up with the Enforcement Authority for not having paid for their lotteries.

Madam Speaker! Through the bill on a new ban on gambling on credit, the Riksdag takes new steps towards a healthier Swedish gambling market, with consideration taken for both the players' best interests and that the market shall function for the companies operating there.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Carl Nordblom (M)

Madam Speaker! Throughout the entire parliamentary term, the government has repeatedly implemented reforms for a better, safer, and more well-functioning gambling market. The major focus has been on countering problem gambling, strengthening the duty of care, and combating unlicensed gambling.

Among other things, the government has given the Gambling Inspectorate the opportunity to carry out test purchases under a concealed identity. It has been changed so that payment services are now required to provide information regarding transactions for unlicensed gambling. Measures have been implemented against match-fixing, including a ban on betting on matches in lower divisions and yellow cards. It has provided increased appropriations to the Gambling Inspectorate and most recently also investigated the direction criterion.

The government's bill is an important further step in the work against over-indebtedness and gambling addiction and for strengthened consumer protection and a strengthened duty of care in the Swedish licensed gambling market.

The Government proposes a new expanded ban on gambling on credit. In the future, license holders shall continue to not be allowed to provide the possibility of credit for gambling themselves. They shall also not be allowed to enable other actors to offer credit for gambling. They shall also be forced to take measures to prevent credit cards from being used for the purchase of gambling, both online and in stores, within reasonable limits, or that gambling is in any other way financed with borrowed money or deferred financing.

Concrete measures for this are, for example, to remove the possibility of using credit cards for online gaming or to clearly inform in stores that credit cards may not be used.

Madam Speaker! It is also important to point out that the government in the bill has clearly signaled that public benefit lotteries can be exempted from the new legislation if reasonable grounds exist. There is nothing in the government's proposal that intends to complicate the operations of public benefit lotteries. The exemption can apply as long as the total credit amount at sale does not exceed one fortieth of a price base amount, and public benefit lotteries' subscription sales and sales of lotteries on telephone subscriptions shall continue to be possible.

Madam Speaker! A number of major referral bodies, such as the Enforcement Authority and the Consumer Agency, agree with the government's assessment that these measures can reduce indebtedness in connection with gambling.

It is also important to point out that it is on the license holders that the new prohibitions and requirements are placed. This does not mean that the legislation in theory cannot be bypassed by players. The legislation aims more at making it harder to incur debt and problem gambling, as well as expanding the duty of care that the license holders already comply with.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I am proud and happy that we have a government that has repeatedly during the mandate period strengthened the duty of care and countered debt and gambling addiction. This proposal is a clear continuation of that work.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Danielsson (L)

Madam Speaker! Gambling for money can be entertainment, but for some, it unfortunately does not end there. What begins as excitement can quickly develop into debts, financial stress, and in the worst cases, serious social problems. It is enough to turn on one or two episodes of Lyxfällan to see how badly it can go when there are insufficient barriers in the systems.

It is to that reality we need to hold ourselves. It is also why this proposal for an expanded ban on gambling on credit is being presented.

Today, it is already forbidden for gambling companies to offer credit directly. Despite that, we know that people still manage to play for borrowed money via quirky third-party solutions and payment models that can be offered by the gambling companies and which in practice do exactly the same thing. The result is a loophole that risks pulling people deeper into debt and which makes the responsibility for gambling hollow. It is this loophole that now needs to be closed.

For the Liberals, the principle is crystal clear: One should never gamble for money that one does not have. Gambling must not become a path into long-term over-indebtedness. Therefore, rules are needed that apply to all licensed forms of gambling and all sales channels – simple, clear, and without unnecessary exceptions that risk being abused.

Madam Speaker! An expanded ban is also about meeting the development we have seen in recent years. The gambling market has changed with new payment services, more aggressive marketing, and increased accessibility. This means that more people are exposed to the risks. When the line between ordinary purchases, digital payments, and gambling stakes becomes blurred, it becomes harder for the individual to maintain control. In that case, the regulatory framework must be strong enough to withstand the methods that enable debt to accumulate in silence.

At the same time, it is important to establish that the proposal is not intended to make things more difficult for civil society. Association life strengthens our society every day – within sports, culture, and other non-profit activities. The government's proposal takes this into account by enabling exceptions in specific cases where the risks of indebtedness are low and clear safeguards are in place. It is a reasonable balance between, on one hand, strong consumer protection and, on the other hand, respect for public benefit activities.

The proposal also has a clear signaling effect that is important. It says that society does not accept games that risk becoming debt traps and that the responsibility cannot be placed entirely and solely on the individual. Gambling should be a voluntary leisure activity, not a trap that leads to indebtedness and addiction. A gambling market must be safe to be legitimate, and the consumers must be at the center.

With that, I move for approval of the committee's proposal for a decision.

In this speech, Fredrik Malm (L) agreed.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 17 February.)

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