An investigation into match-fixing and unlicensed gaming by Sweden’s Ministry of Finance has been extended, and will now also consider stronger penalties for violations of the country’s Money Laundering Act.
Led by director general of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Gunnar Larsson, the investigation into match-fixing and unlicensed gaming began in December 2020 and has been extended until September 2021. Originally, it was set to close in June.
In addition to tackling those issues, the new extended investigation will also take into consideration the need for harsher penalties concerning violations of money laundering and terrorist financing.
A recent report from the Swedish Financial Police found there were over 700 reports of money laundering in the country during 2020. The police’s National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing report also suggested that gambling is at the ‘highest threat level’ of money laundering.
Branscheforenigen för Onlinespel (BOS) also claimed that all major Swedish banks have stopped offering their services to gambling operators, citing concerns about money laundering.
Minister for social protection Ardalan Shekarabi said: “The current investigation will propose solutions to enable effective supervision of illegal gambling and strengthen the work against match-fixing. These issues are of great importance for a sustainable gaming market.
“It is therefore important that the investigator has enough time to develop well-elaborated proposals.”
