Daily News: Recent Developments in Gambling Regulations: Denmark, Sweden, and Australia

In Denmark, 15% of teenagers under 17 gamble online

The Danish regulator reports that 15% of teenagers aged 15 to 17 have gambled. According to the regulator, this corresponds to an amount of 32,000 underage players. Since licensed operators in Denmark cannot provide services to minors, teenagers use illegal online resources.

The Swedish gambling self-exclusion registry has reached 100 thousand users

The Swedish gambling self-exclusion registry Spelpaus has reached the milestone of 100,000 registered users at risk of gambling addiction. Managed by the Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen, the registry was launched on January 1, 2019. All Swedish online gambling operators are required by law to connect their databases to the Spelpaus register to ensure the regulator that any self-excluded customer will not have access to the gambling they offer. Last year, the registry received a major software update that allowed it to detect more effectively violations by operators, and in 2023, Spelinspektionen launched a nationwide campaign to promote the self-exclusion program throughout the country. As a result, over the 10 months of this year, the registry updated the registration record having collected 20 thousand new users and bringing the total number to 100 thousand people. In September this year, the Swedish government confirmed that it would increase the Spelinspektionen budget by an additional SEK 20 million (about €1.8 million) for the period from 2024 to 2026.

In Australia, the majority of self-excluded gamblers chose a lifetime ban

The national Australian self-exclusion register BetStop launched in August this year according to submitted applications has already included almost 10 thousand gamblers. At the same time, the majority of citizens preferred to choose a lifelong voluntary ban on gambling. It is clarified that we are talking about a voluntary ban only on online gambling. Applicants have the right to choose a period of exclusion from 3 months to "forever". It is also reported that the vast majority of people on the BetStop register are under 40 years of age. Local media do not provide more specific statistics on the terms of self-exclusion and categories of gamblers but they indicate that in 1,200 cases, applications for inclusion in the register were submitted not by players personally, but by their authorized representatives. This method is allowed, for example, during the rehabilitation period for persons with particularly severe gambling addiction. All Australian gambling operators are required to promote the BetStop National Self-Exclusion Programme. In addition, from September 29, the country introduced mandatory preliminary verification of users on gambling sites. The measures taken are aimed at minimizing the harm from excessive gambling. In Denmark, 15% of teenagers under 17 gamble online

In Australia, the majority of self-excluded gamblers chose a lifetime ban

The national Australian self-exclusion register BetStop launched in August this year according to submitted applications has already included almost 10 thousand gamblers. At the same time, the majority of citizens preferred to choose a lifelong voluntary ban on gambling.

It is clarified that we are talking about a voluntary ban only on online gambling. Applicants have the right to choose a period of exclusion from 3 months to "forever". It is also reported that the vast majority of people on the BetStop register are under 40 years of age.

Local media do not provide more specific statistics on the terms of self-exclusion and categories of gamblers but they indicate that in 1,200 cases, applications for inclusion in the register were submitted not by players personally, but by their authorized representatives. This method is allowed, for example, during the rehabilitation period for persons with particularly severe gambling addiction. All Australian gambling operators are required to promote the BetStop National Self-Exclusion Programme. In addition, from September 29, the country introduced mandatory preliminary verification of users on gambling sites. The measures taken are aimed at minimizing the harm from excessive gambling.