Patrik Hofbauer, chief executive officer of Sweden’s state-owned gaming operator Svenska Spel, has called for a national debt register to help intervene when individuals harm themselves by gambling too much and going into ruinous debt.
There is a known relationship between problem gambling and debt, said Hofbauer. He called for a self-exclusion scheme for those at financial risk.
“Just as there is Spelpaus for those who want to block themselves from gambling and targeted gambling advertising, there should be a ‘loan block’ that protects against quick loans and advertising from loan companies,” said Hofbauer.
He concluded, “I am happy that Svenska Spel was able to agree with ATG and Kindred to openly report key figures for how we work with customers who show signs of risky gambling.”
