Many players still choose foreign casinos
In May 2023, Spelinspektionen in cooperation with SKOP (Scandinavian Opinion AB) conducted a comprehensive study of Swedes' gaming habits. 3,000 people with experience in online casinos or betting games were asked how they use the gaming services available online.
Among other things, a great deal of attention was paid to studying the relationship between Swedish and foreign casinos. Not least, how players found their way to foreign casinos and why they chose to play there was investigated. Several respondents used the websites spelaonlinebingo.net , which compares different casinos, to find out which online casinos are available to Swedish players.
This is why the Swedes chose foreign casinos.
The survey showed that gambling at foreign casinos is popular among many Swedish players. As many as 7 percent of the survey participants said they played at casinos without a Swedish license. The three most important reasons these players chose foreign casinos over Swedish casinos were as follows:
- Other odds and winning opportunities
- Better bonus offers
- Games despite being blocked through Game Pause
In terms of odds, winning opportunities, bonus systems and other offers, it is the Swedish Gambling Act of 2019 that forms the basis of the differences between Swedish and foreign casinos. Expanded rules seem to be the main reason Swedes choose Swedish casinos in favor of those that can operate without a Swedish license.
The item that came in third on the list of the most common reasons for choosing foreign casino games, on the other hand, may have to do with how Swedes experience their own gambling situation. And, perhaps, could explain why foreign casino games continue to grow in popularity. This website provides information on evolutionary technological trends in the iGaming industry.
Gambling at foreign casinos a possible choice despite the Spelpaus ban
The Swedish Spelpaus blocking service is a voluntary service where players can exclude themselves from gambling at all Swedish casinos for a certain period of time. The player cannot remove the block once it has been installed. However, Spelpaus uses existing centralized systems in Sweden for identification through BankID, which means that the reach of Spelpaus does not reach foreign casinos.
An investigation by Spelinspektionen found that 20 percent of Swedish players surveyed prefer to play at foreign casinos because of Spelpaus' existing or previous ban. Thus, many Swedes regret their decision to ban themselves from gambling in casinos or have inadvertently banned themselves. Then foreign casinos offer additional gambling opportunities.
Will more Swedes be gambling in foreign casinos in 2022?
Thus, the Spelinspektionen study on Swedish gambling was conducted in May 2022. A year later, Spelinspektionen reports that the number of Swedes who used Spelpaus has increased . At the end of May 2022, 75,000 people were suspended from casino gaming through Spelpaus. An increase of 5,000 in the spring of 2023.
This may be an indication of why gambling at foreign casinos is still popular among Swedes who gamble online. Statistics from the Swedish Gambling Authority show that a certain number of those who have suspended through Spelpaus still want to gamble at casinos, but it is only possible at foreign casinos. As the number of suspensions through Spelpaus increases, even playing at foreign casinos may continue to grow in popularity.