Sweden’s Self-Exclusion Programme, SpelPaus, in the News — Weekly Round-up for January 11, 2019

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Jan 11, 2019

Sweden’s Spelpaus Registrations Soar

In first week of launch

Sweden’s Spelinspektionen SpelPaus self-exclusion programme has recorded over 8,896 registrations since the market officially opened on January 1, 2019.

The service provides Swedish citizens the ability to block themselves from all online gaming sites and protects them from gambling advertising.

8,896 people registered of which 6,913 were men and 1,983 women.

The majority of self exclusions (6,200 people) chose to be excluded for twelve months or longer.

Teething Problems With Spelpaus (Update)

Sweden’s self exclusion programme

The Swedish gaming authority Spelinspektionen’s self exclusion programme is under pressure following reports of several players who self excluded but were still able to play, breakit.se reports.

According to the report, two Breakit reporters, Erik Wisterberg and Tobias Blixt, registered and self-excluded on SpelPaus but were still able to register accounts and play at a number of operators.

Seemingly an operator issue, Breakit reports being able to place bets at Tipwin’s live casino, Genesis Global Limited’s Sloty and Pelaa websites, AG Communications Karamba and United Lottery Solutions’ Lottoland.

Spelinspektionen communications manage Anders Sims, said: “It important to note that we have checked and seen that the system works. The gaming companies that have not met their responsibilities for any reason we will take action against.”

Swedish-licensed operators are required under their license conditions to check customers against the self-exclusion register before they are permitted to play.

“The Gaming Inspectorate will send a letter to the companies concerned where they will be urged to quickly submit an explanation of why self-excluded customers have been able to play with them,” Spelinspektionen said in a press release.

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