8 additional B2B licences approved in Sweden

License: Pexels, Free to use, Author: Unif

In an effort to curb the development of the black market, Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen has approved eight additional supplier licences for B2B businesses that wish to continue offering their services to operators in Sweden. These Gaming Software licences are now a requirement for any B2B business that maintains relationships with operators in Sweden after 1 July. This new requirement, which was passed by the Swedish legislature in November, is intended to restrict unlicensed operators' access to providers.

The regulator has issued licences to several suppliers, including state-owned former monopoly Svenska Spel, Comeon brand Co-Gaming, Game Shop Limited, and its Maltese subsidiary. Online and mobile gaming developer Push Gaming has received licences for both its products and Malta subsidiary, as has Swedish slot developer Slotmill, who received two licences. With the inclusion of subsidiaries, there are now a total of 24 suppliers who are authorised to enter into commercial agreements with operators in Sweden.

This introduction of B2B licensing requirements is just one of several new measures brought in by the Swedish authorities to disrupt the illegal gaming sector. The government recently announced that Spelinspektionen would be granted additional funding to give the gambling regulator more power to fight back against the sector.

The Online Gaming Industry Association (BOS) supports this move and stated its agreement with the policy to raise gaming fees to fund the proposal. Spelinspektionen's director general, Camilla Rosenberg, welcomed these extra funds, which will enable further strengthened measures in the fight against unlicensed gambling, money laundering, and match-fixing. However, BOS' secretary-general, Gustaf Hoffstedt, believes that the Gambling Authority is underfunded, making it difficult for an individual licence holder to establish a functioning dialogue with the authority.