Sweden Introduces Mandatory Gaming Cards

November 16, 2013 by

Sweden Gaming CardsSweden has introduced gaming cards, to be used for all forms of gambling to tackle problem gaming in the country. Svenska Spel, who are the official gambling company for the Scandinavian country has made the cards compulsory, so that all players’ actions are monitored for obsessive gambling. This is just the latest in a series of changes to Swedish gambling law, who aim to prevent black market gaming from infesting the country.

At present, any gamer living in Sweden that plays gambling games such as the national keno games, horse racing, online scratch cards or in online or mobile casinos must carry a card. The red plastic simply contains the players account number and card number, and is used like a pay card. The card is topped up with funds and then used to load funds at the player’s online casino site. At present, national lotteries and land based scratch cards are exempt from the card, as is the playing in a land based casino.

So far, the cards have caused mix opinions. Many non-gamers think of them ideal, as a way to track who is gambling and how much they are wagering, to ascertain who is a problem gamer, and to put a stop to it. They also believe that the card will curtail all attempts to play at online casinos which don’t have the necessary license to offer their services to Swedish gamers.

However, there are many gamers who feel as though their rights are being impended by the move. The idea that the Swedish gambling company can monitor a player’s transactions to see if they can really afford to spend what they are spending is an infringement of their privacy.

One perk of the card though, is that the card will also store all winning information on it. This is bad news if you were trying to beat the taxman, though arguably good news if you have forgot to cash out, as any winnings you have acquired will remain on the card. The success of the card greatly depends on the casinos themselves, as many will be unwilling to incorporate it into their payment method set up. Should the government decide to back the plan, it will be law, and they’ll be no choice but to follow suit. At the moment though, gamers can play without such a card, but for how long, is the question.

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