Svenska Spel acquiring PlayScan

Swedish gaming monopoly Svenska Spel has announced that it is set to acquire the full rights and assets of the PlayScan player protection tool from ICU Intelligence through purchasing subsidiary firm PlayScan AB.

Svenska Spel partnered with ICU and the Swedish Gaming Institute to develop PlayScan in 2006 and the technology was recently licensed to La Francaise Des Jeux.

The deal will see Svenska Spel purchases all of ICU’s shares in PlayScan AB, which had earlier acquired all of the rights and assets of the technology not owned by Svenska Spel, and build it up to serve as an operational company with both internal and external customers.

“The acquisition of PlayScan AB collates expertise and technology for PlayScan and gives us better opportunities to further develop PlayScan’s functionality and application in new areas of the gaming market,” said Meta Persdotter, Chief Executive Officer for Svenska Spel.

“It also gives us greater capacity to continue the development of our gaming responsibility and our community commission at large. This deal is important for Svenska Spel and it is extremely pleasing that it's in the bag.”

Svenska Spel stated that PlayScan is the only predictive gaming responsibility tool on the market. The Swedish firm revealed that it can alert players to potentially adverse changes before they develop ‘problematic behaviour’.

“PlayScan is the basis for ongoing communication with players about their gambling habits,” said Persdotter.

“The traditional tools available that allow players to test and analyse their gambling behaviour only give a snapshot of risky behaviour. With PlayScan, players can monitor their gambling behaviour and implement measures if their gaming habits change.”

Svenska Spel revealed that it would appoint new directors and managers for PlayScan AB while formulating directives and management regulations. As such, Ann-Sofie Olsson, who previously served as Svenska Spel’s Corporate Social Responsibility And Public Affairs Vice-President, has been appointed as Acting Chief Executive Officer for PlayScan AB.