Although a bill to legalize licenses for gaming software has not yet been passed by Sweden’s Riksdag, the regulator Skolinspektionen has announced it will begin taking applications starting March 2023.
The government has proposed the measure, but it hasn’t yet been voted on. Moreover, with the recent national elections, the government that proposed the bill is no longer in power.
The regulator commented that it will work with the new majority government to ensure passage of the measure. If it were passed, the text says it would go into force July 1, 2023. That would mandate taking applications in March of next year. The regulator plans to charge SEK120,000 ($10,716) and to issue about 70 licenses.
Spelinspektionen added that it would only accept applications from suppliers who currently operate within the legal marketplace.
It said in a statement: “The purpose of the license requirement for gaming software is to discourage illegal gambling,” it said. “Unlicensed game operators must not be able to use suppliers who manufacture, provide, install and/or change game software for game operators who have a license in Sweden.”
