Svenska Spel: Sweden should sign anti-match fixing convention

The seminar, which took place at Sweden’s parliament earlier this month, was organised by the parliament’s culture committee. It was attended by 30 people, including Dan Korhonen, head of sports betting integrity at Svenska Spel and Niklas Wykman, minister of financial markets.

In its summary of the event, Svenska Spel made three recommendations: that Sweden signs the convention against match fixing; the Gambling Inspectorate is allowed to investigate information on suspected match fixing; and that police are informed on the prevalence of match fixing.

Svenska Spel said that Spelinspektionen has received more funding to continue match fixing investigations, adding that the Swedish government is considering giving the regulator joint responsibility on the issue.

Korhonen noted which patterns should be studied when match fixing is suspected, and how gambling operators should remain vigilant against instances of suspicious betting.

Wykman highlighted how match fixing can act as a cornerstone for criminal activity, such as money laundering, and pointed out the connection between match fixing and problem gambling behaviours.

The event was also attended by Anders Wikström, a Swedish former footballer, who said that collaboration between associations and a strengthened regulatory framework is a key tool in the fight against match fixing.