One Year Investigation in Sweden Report
The results of a one year investigation into online poker play in Sweden alleges that players are more then twice as likely to develop gambling problems when playing poker at sites that have foreign operators. This is compared to those that play at the state owned online poker rooms of Svenska Spel.
The investigation was commissioned in April of 2007 by Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg. The investigation estimates that some 200,000 Swede's currently participate in online poker. Of those, 27.5 percent are said to have played online poker during the fourth quarter of 2007 at Svenska Spel's site only.
Another 25 percent played at Svenska Spel and at least another site, while almost half the other players, 47.5 percent played at other sites. The report claims that of the players that only used Svenska Spel to play only 11 percent showed problematic or risky gambling behavior compared to the 27 percent who only played at private operators sites.
The report also suggested that Swedish players overwhelmingly approve of Svenska Spel's responsible gaming measures. Eight out of 10 are in fare of the depositing limits and 7 out of 10 are in favor of the time limits.
Svenska Spel's was only authorized to operate an online poker room until December of 2007 but their authorization has been extended by the government until June 30th 2008 so they could see the results of this investigations.
The investigation findings are now expected to be used to held renew the license for the Svenska Spel online poker room. The report has stated that they have been successful in channeling Swedish poker players away from "less socially responsible" private operators.
