Swedish govt investigation to propose scrapping online gambling monopoly-source
29/03/2017 15:27
STOCKHOLM, March 29 (Reuters) - Sweden's state gambling
monopoly should be largely scrapped and replaced with a system
where online gambling companies are licensed and taxed, a
government-appointed investigation will propose this week, a
source familiar with the matter said.
The special investigator leading the review, Hakan
Hallstedt, will recommend that online gambling firms pay a tax
of 18 percent on their gross gaming revenue, said the source,
who had reviewed the proposal ahead of its presentation on
Friday.
The proposal would aim to ensure that the percentage of
licensed and tax-generating gambling amount to 90 percent of the
Swedish market.
By scrapping the decades-old monopoly, the centre-left
government hopes to bring foreign-based online gambling
companies such as Kindred Group KINDsdb.ST and Betsson
BETSb.ST , which operate from outside Sweden and have taken a
growing share of online betting, under its regulatory sway.
(Reporting by Johan Sennero; editing by Niklas Pollard and
Johan Ahlander)
((Johan.Sennero@thomsonreuters.com; +4687001250; Reuters
Messaging: johan.sennero.reuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: SWEDEN TAX/GAMBLING