(AsiaGameHub) –   Swedish gambling industry stakeholders are being encouraged to adopt more evidence-based strategies to address problem gambling, as recent analysis underscores the intricate risk profiles that influence player habits. Collaboration between regulators, operators, and public health authorities is deemed essential to safeguard Sweden’s stable problem gambling statistics against both existing and emerging challenges.

These insights stem from a report commissioned by BOS, the Swedish Online Gambling Trade Association, and authored by economist Ola Nevander of Makrologik.

Spanning 25 years of data, Nevander’s study, titled “The Development of Problem Gambling in Sweden,” offers a long-term perspective on the evolution of gambling addiction while questioning common beliefs regarding how market growth, regulatory shifts, and increased accessibility influence these rates.

Regarding prevalence, the study reveals that problem gambling in Sweden has decreased and leveled off over the last two decades, despite market liberalization and total gambling expenditure reaching approximately SEK 28bn (€2.8bn) by 2024.

The percentage of problem gamblers has dropped from over 2% in the late 2000s to roughly 1.3% today—a statistically significant decline at the population level. Notably, the transition to a licensed online framework post-2018, which currently supports about 60 B2C operators, has been a key development.

Despite these structural changes, Sweden has maintained a problem gambling rate of about 1.3%, keeping it below that of comparable Nordic nations, though international comparisons are often complicated by differing methodologies.

Economist Nevander remarked on the findings: “The result is a consistent downward trend. This outcome may be unexpected, given the dynamic evolution of the gambling sector during this timeframe. Gambling marketing is more widespread than before, the variety of products is significantly larger, and games are accessible 24/7 via mobile devices. Nevertheless, gambling addiction is on the decline.”

Crucially, the report disputes the idea that increased availability, advertising, and product innovation are the primary drivers of problem gambling. During the same period that digital access became nearly universal, product offerings grew substantially, and marketing reached record levels, yet the prevalence of problem gambling fell rather than rose.

Instead, the research points to a more complex interplay of societal and behavioral risk factors. Problem gambling is more closely associated with individual vulnerabilities—such as mental health issues like depression and impulsivity, risky alcohol use, significant life stressors, and behaviors like chasing losses. These factors suggest that harm is concentrated within specific high-risk groups rather than spread evenly across the general population.

The report further notes an ‘absolute decline’ in the number of Swedish problem gamblers, which has dropped by 57,000 since 2008, while the broader category of ‘at-risk’ players has decreased by 200,000 since 2018.

Emphasis is instead placed on the structural importance of regulation. Sweden’s 2019 licensing system facilitates duty-of-care requirements, self-exclusion tools, and data-driven monitoring of player behavior within the regulated sector—mechanisms considered vital for early risk detection and intervention.

However, these protections are only effective within the licensed sphere. Channeling players toward regulated operators remains vital, as migration to unlicensed or offshore platforms undermines oversight and eliminates access to support tools. Evidence indicates that a notable number of self-excluded individuals continue to gamble on unregulated sites, representing a significant vulnerability in the current system.

BOS Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt stated that the findings highlight the potential for technology and regulation to further mitigate harm: “With the shift from traditional, anonymous kiosk gambling to today’s digital products, we haven’t completely solved the issue of gambling addiction, but we appear to be on the right path.”

“When utilized correctly and responsibly, online gambling and AI provide us with new tools to reduce problem gambling to levels likely lower than ever before. We are heading in the right direction, but there is still much to be done.”

Ultimately, the report reinforces a core conclusion: problem gambling is not merely a byproduct of market size or accessibility, but the result of an interaction between individual vulnerability, behavioral patterns, and institutional frameworks. For Swedish stakeholders, the goal is not to impose total market restrictions, but to ensure that regulation promotes high channelization, effective oversight, and targeted interventions for those most at risk.

In this light, Sweden serves as a case study in regulatory balance—where market liberalization has occurred alongside stable or decreasing harm—though maintaining this equilibrium will require ongoing cooperation as new risks arise.