Swedish gambling growth slows to 3.2% in 2017

Swedish regulator Lotteriinspektionen has revealed that growth in the country’s gaming market slowed to 3.2% in 2017, compared to 5.3% in the previous year.

Total turnover in the Swedish gambling sector for the 12 months to December 31, 2017, amounted to SEK22.6bn (€2.25bn/$2.77bn) after paid earnings.

Figures released by the regulator show that growth was primarily driven by non-Swedish players, with this total up 12.8% year-on-year to just over SEK5.5bn.

In comparison, Swedish-owned players traded just under SEK17.1bn, down 0.5% on the previous year.

Svenska Spel was the leading developer in the past year after reporting turnover of almost SEK9bn, down 0.1% on 2016, which was mainly due to a 5% decline in land-based games turnover.

ATG saw turnover increase 3.1% year-on-year to SEK4.1bn after a 13.9% jump in online gaming turnover helped to offset an 8.9% drop in land-based games activity.

The news comes after the Lotteriinspektionen last week said that it will open the application process for new online gambling licences in the country on July 1.

Sweden is set to introduce new laws for internet gaming on January 1, 2019, although such regulations are yet to be finalised.

Related article: Sweden to open licensing window on July 1