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GAMBLING

Prominent Social Democrat named head of Svenska Spel

Margareta Winberg, a former Social Democratic Deputy Prime Minister, has been named the new chair of Svenksa Spel, Sweden’s state-owned gaming operation.

Prominent Social Democrat named head of Svenska Spel

“With the change in leadership we want to clarify the direction of Svenska Spel’s work. With Margareta Winberg as chair, we can strengthen (the organization’s) concentration on social responsibility and public health,” said Minister of Finance Anders Borg in a statement.

The government said it wants to counteract gaming’s damaging effects. In December, a government gaming commission will present suggestions on how to make the gaming industry more socially responsible.

Winberg has a long career in Social Democratic politics, having served most recently as Sweden’s ambassador to Brazil from 2003 to 2007. She also held several positions in the government of Göran Persson, including Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister for Equality.

Winberg was first elected to the Riksdag in 1981.

GAMBLING

Spain to force gamblers to set time and spending limit before playing online

The Spanish government wants to limit the amount of time and money gamblers spend on online betting and gambling platforms by making them set limits before they start playing. 

Spain to force gamblers to set time and spending limit before playing online
Photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP

This is the proposal in the latest draft decree of Spain’s General Directorate of Gambling which could be approved at the end of 2021 or early 2022.

Under the new rules, people who play online games such as bingo, roulette, black jack, baccarat and virtual fruit machines would have to first set how much money they intend to gamble and how long they intend to play. 

Whichever of the two limits runs out first would end the gambling session. 

If the law is approved, online gamblers in Spain will still be able to start another session straight afterwards, as the objective of the law is to help prevent players from losing control over what they’re spending and to give them a break to let the adrenaline rush drop and a moment to reconsider their options. 

In any case, online gamblers in Spain would have a daily spending limit of €600 or €1,500 a week if the draft law is approved.

With this clause, lawmakers hope to distinguish “serious” gamblers – those who surpass the 50 percent daily limit of €300 – from those who don’t play online as regularly. 

Once an online gambler was classified as “serious” (intensivo), they would not be allowed to pay for their gambling sessions with a credit card in order to prevent them from piling up debt. 

Spanish authorities are particularly concerned about the increasing number of young people who are becoming addicted to gambling and betting sites, often lured in by the promise of free bets when signing up.  

A 2019 report by Spain’s Federation of Rehabilitated Gamblers found that Spain has the highest rate of young gamblers (aged 14 to 21) in the EU. 

READ MORE: Spain has Europe’s highest rate of teen gamblers

The pandemic, including the lockdowns, restrictions and boredom that have come with it, have only served to intensify the trend. 

The average annual spending per player in Spain went from €312 in 2016 to €533 in 2020.

Under the new rules, young people would be considered “serious” gamblers if they spent 25 percent of the limits set: €150 for two days in a row, or €375 over the course of two weeks. 

More than 8.5 percent of online gamblers in Spain (of the 1.5 million total of active players) do not reach the mentioned levels that signal addiction.

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