Sweden

Population 2019:	10,2 million
GDP 2019:	474 Billion EUR
GDP per capita 2019:	43.900
Taxation for lotteries	Exempted from gambling tax
Charity lotteries allowed:	Yes, under strict conditions

LEGISLATION

In 2019 the Swedish gambling market re-regulated. The goal and purpose of this regulation were to turn a partly outdated national monopoly into a partly oligopolistic section and a competitive market that is partially free. It created standard and sustainable gambling rules and established a licensing system for the online companies to join, tax revenues were to be secured. The public interest associations' somewhat fragile gambling domains – mainly charity lotteries – and revenues would be protected. Furthermore, the state would combat problem gambling and counteract cheating at gambling. High level of consumer protection and good security were crucial elements.

The online gambling companies, not regulated in Sweden, had operated on the Swedish market for about twenty years. The objective of the re-regulation was a "channelling" of 90 per cent.

The gambling market contained three parts for the different actors: competitive online gambling companies, state-owned monopoly and charity and state-owned lotteries.

Sources

CHARITY LOTTERIES

One of the main objectives of the re-regulation of the Swedish gambling market was to ensure that non-profit charity lotteries could continue to develop and exist with the same terms and conditions as before the regulation. Important because the Swedish civil society obtains about 20 per cent of their yearly funding through games and lotteries.

Luckily, the re-regulation led to significant changes to these lotteries. As of today, they are still able to conduct lottery and bingo activities, both land-based and online on a partially protected market.

Lotteries deemed to be of great value to the public interest, and no direct competition from online gambling companies or the equivalent. Creating a demarcated division of the market was a way to secure the public interest associations gambling domains and future funding.

Should these lotteries wish to operate gambling belonging to the competitive section of the market, the same conditions will a apply to them as for other gambling companies on that section. It also solved the uncertainty whether the tax exemption would come in conflict with the EU state aid regulations.

As for now, there are special conditions for charity lotteries given the vital role they fulfil for society. For example; 18 per cent tax has been set for all types of gambling, charity lotteries have been exempted from this as they already distribute a large portion of their revenue to society.

SVENSKA POSTKODLOTTERIET

The Svenska PostkodLotteriet launched in September 2005. This Swedish charity lottery distributes roughly 30% of its total revenue to Swedish charities. The license holder, Svenska PostkodFöreningen, is responsible for the distribution of the donations to the beneficiaries and holds the license. All beneficiaries of the lottery are members of this association, and the independent Supervisory Board chooses new charities if expansion is possible after growth in turnover.

In 2019, the Svenska PostkodLotteriet distributed the total sales amounted to SEK 3579 million (€ 339 million) of which SEK 1023 million (€ 97 million) to 57 beneficiaries, such as WWF, Alzheimer Foundation and Children's Rights in Society.

FOLKSPEL

The second-largest charity lottery in Sweden is Folkspel. A group of 73 NGOs, with a membership base of over 5 million people. Among these NGOs are the National Sports Association, the Breast Cancer Association, the Rheumatism Association and the Association for Senior Citizens. Folkspel arranges, among others, the BingoLotto, the most successful game which generates a large part of Folkspel's income. Local sports clubs and organisations recruit members to sell tickets for this lottery. The National Sports Association accounts for approximately 90 per cent of the tickets.

Since the establishment in 1991, the BingoLotto donated SEK 16.6 billion (€ 1,5 billion) to the charity organisations. The turnover in 2018 amounted to SEK 1,248 million (€ 120 million) and profit for charity to SEK 189 million (€ 18 million).

MILJONLOTTERIET

Miljonlotteriet is owned by the charity IOGT-NTO, which aims to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol by young people. Grounded in 1964 and primarily focusses on offering cash and merchandise prizes for their lottery games. They also offer bingo games. Players can subscribe or buy tickets via retail outlets and can play bingo online.

KOMBISPEL

Kombispel offers several types of games of chance. It was created in 1956 by the Socialist Workers Party (SAP) and the Swedish Social Democratic Youth (SSU) and is still owned by them to this day. As such, these political parties are also the beneficiaries of the proceeds. They organise three kinds of lotteries, the Kombilotteriet, the Drömreselotteriet (Travel lottery), and the Motorlottoriet (Car Lottery), scratch cards and bingo. The three lotteries share a jackpot but differ in their main prize appeal. It is possible to take a subscription for the monthly draws. The profit for charity was SEK 79 billion (€ 75 million) in 2019.

OTHER LOTTERIES

SVENSKA SPEL

The Swedish government has issued an exclusive permit to AB Svenska Spel; a national state-owned lottery established in 1996 as a result of a merger between Tipstjänst (sports betting) and Penninglotteriet (the national lottery). Svenska Spel offers a wide range of games such as lotto, bingo, lotteries, poker, betting, casinos: both online and offline. It has a monopoly on slot machines and land-based casinos. Svenska Spel is allowed within all three parts of the market but does not have a tax exception when offering lotteries on the charity lottery market.

Lotteries of Svenska Spel are subject to the control of the Ministry of Finance and profits are delivered to the state treasury, to be distributed by the government and parliament. The Swedish government appoints the board of Svenska Spel.

In 2019 the turnover of Svenska Spel was SEK 667 million (61,3 million EUR) of which SEK 50 million (4,5 million EUR) was to Swedish amateur sports in 2019.