Falling problem gambling rates in Sweden - challenges persist

• Problem gambling is falling in Sweden, even as the market expands
• The total number of affected individuals is shrinking, not just the percentage
• Yet the most severe cases remain stubbornly unchanged

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BoS) has delved deeper into the prevalence of problem gambling and the expansion of impulsive gambling in the population, turning to economist Ola Nevander to analyze the market.

BoS is fairly optimistic about the prevalence of gambling addiction in Sweden

Key to this analysis has been the prevalence of gambling addiction, with the results suggesting that the condition is in decline despite the growth of the population and the expansion of the regulated gambling market.

While gambling advertising is more prevalent than before, and so are the available products, addiction continues to decline. Commenting on these findings, BOS Secretary-General Gustaf Hoffstedt said:

"With the transformation from old anonymous gambling in the kiosk to today’s digital gaming products, we have not solved the problem of gambling addiction, but we seem to have chosen the right path."

Hoffstedt welcomed the use of cutting-edge technology to reduce the levels of gambling addiction to historic lows that were previously impossible. Despite the optimism, much work remains, the Secretary-General remarked.

Many of the previously held beliefs are challenged in the new report

Among the key findings of the report were the fact that problem gambling has been steadily declining in the country, from 2.2% in 2008 to 1.3% in 2021. Importantly, fewer people are problem gamblers today, even though the population has continued to increase.

Severe problem gambling, however, has remained mostly unchanged over the past decade, with anything between 0.3% and 0.6%. The report notably examined the relationship between problem gambling and advertising, finding that advertising did not necessarily result in higher levels of addiction as compulsive behavior continued to decline.

A similar conclusion was reached by the report on another hot-button topic - the expansion of the available verticals and products.

Once again, the report did not find a relationship between expanding the available gambling products and the prevalence of problem gambling. Similarly, the availability of smartphones and 24/7 online accessibility also did not contribute to greater levels of addiction.

Self-exclusion tools continue to yield mixed results - more input needed

The report argued that a far better predictor of problem gambling behavior has to do with a person’s mental health, alcohol use, and adverse life experiences. Similarly, the report stressed the importance of channeling players into regulated operators, which is what allows for monitoring, interventions, and self-exclusion.

On that last point, however, the report said that self-exclusion and pre-commitment, as well as data monitoring, had mixed effectiveness, with more data needed.

The report also argued that psychological treatments are highly effective, but that only about 10-20% of people who suffer from gambling addiction actually reach out to seek help.

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