The Swedish online gaming trade association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) is warning that the tax rate hike Sweden is contemplating from 18 percent to 22 percent next year will drive more consumers to the black market, Casino Beats reported December 12.
The Swedish Riksdag will begin discussing this increase to gambling income taxes next month. The association said that considering “fewer players currently looking to play on the safe licensed market” a higher tax rate would drive more players to illegal sites.
Sweden’s gaming regulator, Spelinspektionen, appeared to agree with the BOS: “The Swedish Gaming Authority has no substantive views on the proposals in the memorandum. However, the Swedish Gaming Authority believes that there are certain difficulties in getting an overview of what consequences the proposed change may actually have.” It added, “the Gambling Inspectorate sees that an increase in the tax on gambling may affect, among other things, the channeling rate.”
