Swedish review calls for 18% online gambling tax
The Swedish state gambling monopoly should be in part removed and replaced with a setup that dictates online gambling operators’ are licenced and taxed 18%, Reuters has reported.
An unnamed source told Reuters that special investigator Hakan Hallstedt will recommend in a government review that online gambling firms pay 18% tax on gross gaming revenue.
The move is aimed at bringing foreign-based online gambling companies such as Kindred Group and Betsson, which operate from outside of Sweden but are well established in the country, under Sweden’s regulatory system. A timeline for implementation of the review's recommendations has not yet been set out.
A spokesperson from Kindred told iGaming Business: “After the proposal has been put forward the political process picks up. The strategy and default action by Kindred is to obtain local licenses in re-regulated markets. The final decision however can’t be made until we know what set of regulations the Parliament will actually adopt in 2018. So far though it seems from to be a reasonable regime being proposed.
“During this time Kindred of course will continue to contribute with expertise and experience from other markets.”
In order to raise tax revenue from online gaming, the Swedish government appointed a commission to investigate a licence based system in 2015.
Licensed and taxed gambling currently makes up 77% of the gambling landscape according to the Swedish Gambling Authority, however the new measures will mean that could rise to 90%.
Sweden’s casino and lottery state monopolies will not be affected.
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“Of course we want to be licensed in Sweden when the market regulates, but not at any price,” Henrik Tjarnstrom, Kindred chief executive (paywall)
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This will be discussed in more detail at iGB's Nordic Affiliate Conference which will take place from April 6-7 in Stockholm, Sweden. To find out more, visit the Nordic Affiliate Conference section of the iGB Affiliate website.