Sweden’s licensed operators generated SEK6.8bn (€627m) in the second quarter of 2022, a 4% increase on the SEK6.5bn (€600m) reported for the same period of last year.

According to the latest data from the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA), iGaming and online sports betting contributed SEK4.2bn (€387.1m) in Q2, marking an increase of 2.5% in comparison to the 4.1bn (€377.8m) achieved last year.

The Swedish lottery and slot machines accounted for SEK1.41bn (€130m), which was only marginally higher than the SEK1.40bn (€129m) reported in the second quarter of 2021.

The state-owned Cosmopol casinos, meanwhile, came in with SEK145m (€13.4m) in Q2, driving much of the annual growth as casinos were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions in Q2 of last year, during which time they generated zero revenue.

National lottery games for public benefit purposes generated SEK868m (€80m), down 9.3%, while bingo hall games for public benefit generated SEK48m (€4.4m), down slightly from SEK46m (€4.2m) in Q3 2021.

Meanwhile, around 76,400 people had self-excluded from gambling via the regulator’s Spelpaus programme, representing an increase of just over 4% when compared to the previous quarter (Q1 2022).

The SGA also published the results of a survey it had carried out in collaboration with research firm SKOP about the online gambling habits of the Swedish population.

Between May and June 2022, more than 4,400 people aged 18 or over were interviewed about their online gambling habits.

Among the key findings was that almost every third Swede played online at least once a quarter, and that 85% of respondents were aware of the Spelpaus self-exclusion register.

In addition, the survey highlighted that the most important reasons for choosing gambling sites with a Swedish licence were safety, security and control.

Poker and online casinos were particularly popular among those who played on sites without a Swedish gaming licence.

However, 8% of players said they gamble on sites that do not have a Swedish licence, although when asked to specify on which websites they play, it turned out that several of the mentioned websites are in fact licensed in Sweden.

The most popular reason for playing on sites without a Swedish gaming licence related to bonus offers. In the regulated market, Swedish operators are only allowed to offer welcome bonuses.

Other reasons were for self-excluded players to circumvent Spelpaus or to take advantage of better odds.