Latest News
The next step after the privatization of “Bilprovningen”: sell Svenska Spel
It was with a clear message that Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) last week explained why the state is selling Bilprovningen, Sweden’s largest vehicle inspection company: “There is no obvious reason why the state should own this company. The state must first and foremost regulate and control this market, but it is good if others own,” she said.
The same can be said about the state-owned company in the gambling industry, Svenska Spel.
Bilprovningen and Svenska Spel belong to a handful of state holdings that are particularly unsuitable for the state to own, in that the state companies operate in a competitive market alongside a number of normal private companies, where the state has the role of regulating both its own company but also all others.
It is never a good idea to be a player and referee in the same match. No matter how much responsibility is distributed among various functions and authorities within the state, such an arrangement is set up to erode trust in the state’s role as a neutral judge. Is it the neutral judge we listen to when government officials speak, or is it the state casino director?
Having a state-owned company operating in an otherwise competitive market is by no means a guarantee that state-owned companies will perform better than private companies. This year alone, the fines issued to Svenska Spel by the Swedish Gambling Authority add up to over one hundred million kronor (€10M), for various violations of the Gambling Act. That’s more than any other gambling company on the market.
And it’s still not the big talking point of the year when it comes to scandals in the gambling industry. The big scandal has concerned a gambling company owned by a political party. Consider if a scandal of the same dignity affects a gambling company owned by the Swedish government. Every day with the state as owner of Svenska Spel, the government is exposed to this risk, e.g. with the illegal gambling advertising when Trisslotten is scratched on TV4.
Another unfortunate consequence when the state owns and operates companies on competitive markets is that the public debate about how gambling should be regulated is short-circuited, when Svenska Spel or their representatives take the floor and tell the government and the Riksdag how things should be regulated. The order in a democracy must be the other way around: it is the Riksdag and the government that have the mandate to say what Svenska Spel should do, not Svenska Spel that should give directives to the elected politicians.
The two heaviest parties in the government base in terms of the number of seats in the Riksdag – the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats – were very clear before the last election what they intended to do with Svenska Spel in the event of an election victory: privatize the state ownership. Instead, it was said, the government should concentrate on the role that only the state can have, namely, to be a legislator and to monitor that the market participants comply with laws and regulations.
The sale of AB Bilprovningen shows that the government is prepared to go from words to action, and there is no reason to wait any longer with the privatization of Svenska Spel. In fact, the state’s role as an impartial judge is probably even more important in the gambling market than in the car inspection industry.
Of course, a sale must take place according to all rules in order to get as much paid for the company as possible. The sale can then form an important basis for important government investments in, for example, infrastructure. It would be a sale we would all win from.
Gustaf Hoffstedt
Secretary General, BOS – The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling
The post The next step after the privatization of “Bilprovningen”: sell Svenska Spel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: < 1 minute
SlotMatrix, the world’s largest casino content aggregator, is embracing the holiday season with Santa’s Golden Christmas, a sparkling new slot packed with festive cheer, golden prizes, and heart-warming holiday magic.
Set in a winter wonderland, the game brings players closer to the jolly gift-giver. Snowflakes drift across the reels, each carrying the potential to boost Jackpot values or trigger Stanta’s Jackpot Wheel, where Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, and Grand prizes await.
The Free Spins bonus delivers even more festive excitement. Locking full reels clears columns, opens new positions, and increases the Free Spins Multiplier, which can climb from 1x all the way to 10x. Each cash prize collected during Free Spins is amplified at the end by this multiplier, turning generous gifts into golden wins.
Exclusively available through SlotMatrix, Santa’s Golden Christmas is enhanced by EveryMatrix’s proprietary gamification tools, including free spins and leaderboards, and can be seamlessly integrated with EngageSuite, the all-in-one player loyalty solution.
Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix: “We are nearing the end of the year, and we wanted to celebrate this wonderful season with a special game.
“The dazzling visuals, joyful audio, and ever-present chance of hitting Santa’s biggest prizes make this the perfect choice for the holidays. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, ‘tis the season to play Santa’s Golden Christmas.”
The post SlotMatrix kicks off festive season with Santa’s Golden Christmas release appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
CHESS SUPERSTARS CARLSEN, NAKAMURA, AND GOTHAMCHESS JOIN BETBY FOR CHESS MASTERCLASS AT ICE BARCELONA
Reading Time: 2 minutes
BETBY, the Tier 1 B2B sportsbook supplier, has announced an unparalleled activation for ICE Barcelona 2026, bringing together three of the most influential figures in chess: Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess). This will mark the first time that all three will appear publicly together in Europe, adding a landmark moment to one of the industry’s major events.
Magnus Carlsen, BETBY’s global brand ambassador, five-time World Chess Champion, and officially considered the greatest player in chess history, will be joined by Hikaru Nakamura, current world number two, five-time US Champion, and one of the best grandmasters of the modern era. They will also be accompanied by Levy Rozman, better known globally as GothamChess, the world’s largest chess streamer with more than 7 million YouTube followers and a central figure in chess’ surge in mainstream popularity.
This unique gathering underscores the shared vision between BETBY and the global chess community: innovation, strategic excellence, and the pursuit of new frontiers in digital entertainment. Chess continues to experience a cultural renaissance, fuelled by new competitive formats, digital viewership, and its recent inclusion in the Esports World Cup, where Carlsen claimed the inaugural title.
The activation also marks a major moment in the second phase of BETBY’s global campaign with Magnus Carlsen, “Leaders Choose Leaders.” This campaign is built on the idea that true leaders — in chess and business — recognise excellence and choose to surround themselves with others who operate at the highest level.
Carlsen, Nakamura, and Rozman will join BETBY at 12:00 pm on Day 2 (20 January) of ICE Barcelona, at stand 5K20 in Fira Barcelona Gran Via, offering attendees a rare opportunity to get up close and engage directly with three of the sport’s most recognisable figures.
The appearance will include a live press conference, as well as exhibition matches featuring Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Levy Rozman.
“Bringing Magnus, Hikaru, and Levy together at ICE Barcelona is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at BETBY. “Anyone who loves chess knows how special this is. Having these three on the same stage guarantees an incredible show full of energy, personality, and the kind of excitement you rarely get to see live. We’re proud to create a moment that fans and our partners will remember for a long time.”
BETBY invites chess fans, industry professionals, and ICE delegates to witness this exceptional activation at stand 5K20, where strategy, entertainment, and elite talent converge in a show you won’t want to miss.
The post CHESS SUPERSTARS CARLSEN, NAKAMURA, AND GOTHAMCHESS JOIN BETBY FOR CHESS MASTERCLASS AT ICE BARCELONA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has partnered with Buzz Group, the company behind the UK’s largest omnichannel bingo operator, Buzz Bingo.
Buzz Bingo has a five-decade heritage, a cross-generational community of more than a million members, and 79 bingo clubs that welcome nearly 100,000 players each week. Its digital platform extends this community online, offering hundreds of slots and recreating the safe and sociable atmosphere that has long defined its venues.
Buzz Bingo’s digital platform will now feature a host of Gaming Corps’ standout titles such as 3 Pigs of Olympus, a light-hearted mythological slot packed with Instant Prize action and an escalating Bonus Pot, along with Anubis vs Horus: Twin Titans, where two of mythology’s most powerful deities face off in a battle for legendary rewards.
These join the wider portfolio of Crash, Mine, Table, Plinko and Slot content, all available across mobile, desktop and in-club Touchpads.
Adam Pentecost, Director of Customer Success at Gaming Corps, said: “Buzz Bingo has a unique place in British entertainment. Few brands have such deep community roots or such a loyal, cross-generational audience. That makes this partnership particularly meaningful for us. Our goal is always to build games that feel engaging from the very first interaction, and Buzz’s focus on sociable, inclusive play is a natural home for our content. We’re looking forward to supporting their continued growth across both digital and in-club channels.”
David Swaine, Head of Product Slots & Games at Buzz Bingo, added: “We’re pleased to bring Gaming Corps titles to buzzbingo.com as we continue expanding our online games library. Their mix of inventive mechanics, bold themes and easy-to-pick-up gameplay fits well with what our players enjoy, both in-club and online. We’re excited to add more of their releases over the coming months.”
The partnership marks Gaming Corps’ latest move in strengthening its position in the UK market, adding another recognisable British entertainment brand to its growing network of operator partners.
The post Gaming Corps signs new content partnership with Buzz Bingo appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News3 months ago
Duels for Friends in Trophy Hunter. Invite your friends and create a shared space for fun and competition.
-
Latest News2 months ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News3 months ago
Flamez – A Fiery New Online Casino Contender from Ganadu
-
Latest News3 months ago
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Wraps Season 1 with Stephen Crystal—From Las Vegas Legends to Global Gaming Leadership
-
Latest News3 months ago
AI-Powered Gamification Arrives on Vegangster Platform via Smartico
-
Latest News4 weeks ago
JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment
-
Latest News2 months ago
The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
-
Latest News3 months ago
Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational
You must be logged in to post a comment Login