Sweden may be the next country to impose a ban on gambling ads during live sports broadcasts, according to a government minister.
On Friday, Swedish media outlet Aftonbladet quoted Minister of Civil Affairs Ardalan Shekarabi saying he didn’t want to “exclude” the possibility that Sweden may follow the leads of other nations looking to minimize the potential harms of gambling by limiting operators’ ability to market their products to sports fans.
In December, UK gambling operators agreed to a voluntary ban on advertising during live sports broadcasts. This week, the director of Denmark’s state-run Danske Spil gambling firm suggested the government adopt a similar plan and “let viewers watch the match in peace.”
Shekarabi said Swedes were increasingly “tired of the extremely aggressive marketing, the unrestrained advertising.” Shekarabi said Sweden’s new gambling licensees “have a huge responsibility and must ensure that they live up to the requirements and intentions” of Sweden’s new gambling laws.