Svenska Spel has reached a record number of applications for direct funding from its Independent Research Council on Gambling Risks and Addiction.
In 2024, the Council launched seven new research projects, which received a total of SEK 6m (€650,000) in funding.
The projects will investigate critical areas, including the comorbidity of problem gambling with other mental illnesses, the impact of gambling advertising, and whether microtransactions in games influence gambling behaviours.
The Council supported the funding of these projects to enhance research into gambling addiction within a broader societal context.
As explained by Sara Lindholm Larsson, Chair of Svenska Spel’s research council, “We see a growing need to understand gambling problems in a broader societal context. Much of the focus is on mental health, particularly among young people. It is a positive development that means we can contribute knowledge that truly makes a difference.”
2025 will mark the 15th anniversary of Svenska Spel’s Independent Research Council, at which point the programme will have reached the milestone of SEK 100m (€10m) in total research grants, underscoring Svenska Spel’s commitment to responsible gaming and evidence-based initiatives.
Alongside Swedish competitors such as Kindred Group and ATG, Svenska Spel is maintaining its 2022 pledge to publish quarterly data on safer gambling metrics related to the Swedish market.
Led by its independent council, Svenska Spel continues to develop initiatives aimed at fostering deeper collaboration with Swedish authorities and health bodies to promote a better understanding of the impacts of problem gambling. Initiatives include the annual Knowledge Day, which has highlighted topics such as youth gambling, the link between gambling problems and computer gaming, and municipal-level preventive measures.
“It is natural for the gaming market to develop, but it must be done in a responsible manner. By supporting research and spreading knowledge, we want to contribute to a more sustainable gaming market where risks are reduced,” said Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel.