The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has released its reaction to the news regarding the closing of Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm.
It was back in May when the Swedish Government proposed the constitutional amendments that looked at removing the “gambling form of casino gambling from the state gambling license type,” meaning operators would no longer be allowed to run games at a casino in Sweden.
At the time, Svenska Spel shared the Government’s assessment of the business with Casino Cosmopol struggling to make a profit, with visitor numbers also declining, owing mainly because of more people playing online. This was emphasised in Svenska Spel’s H1 results, which showed profit was down 19%.
BOS has also shown its support for the proposal, agreeing that governments should not operate casinos, but has suggested that private land-based casinos should be allowed in the country.
Currently, private land-based casinos are not allowed in Sweden and the Government has proposed that this will remain the same going forward.
BOS Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt said: “Land-based casinos play a very small role in terms of their turnover, but they still have a function in the overall ecosystem of the gambling market. In addition, they fulfill a function for Sweden as a tourist country and to deter illegal gambling clubs.
“We propose that the Government, at the same time as they close their own government casino, open up for private companies to offer land-based casinos in Sweden.”
