Svenska Spel to enforce age checks
State-owned Swedish betting company Svenska Spel has said it will introduce compulsory age checks for people using its gaming machines. Shops and bars that host the machines but do not enforce the age limits will face tougher penalties, the company has said.
The reaction follows a recent investigation by Swedish Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen) which revealed failures in age checks at some Svenska Spel franchise holders.
The investigation showed that children were being allowed to play on gaming machines in about half of the bars and restaurants checked.
"It is of course regrettable that the age checks are not functioning satisfactorily. We have worked hard an in a focused way for many years to ensure that age limits are followed, both in shops and restaurants. But we have not achieved the results we had expected," Svenska Spel's Håkan Sjöstrand wrote in a statement on Monday.
In the future, people wanting to play on Svenska Spel's machines will have to confirm their age using a Swedish ID card or Svenska Spel's own gaming card. New gaming machines will be equipped with a card reader to carry out the checks. The first machines with card readers will be placed in Svenska Spel franchises from next year.
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The reaction follows a recent investigation by Swedish Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen) which revealed failures in age checks at some Svenska Spel franchise holders.
The investigation showed that children were being allowed to play on gaming machines in about half of the bars and restaurants checked.
"It is of course regrettable that the age checks are not functioning satisfactorily. We have worked hard an in a focused way for many years to ensure that age limits are followed, both in shops and restaurants. But we have not achieved the results we had expected," Svenska Spel's Håkan Sjöstrand wrote in a statement on Monday.
In the future, people wanting to play on Svenska Spel's machines will have to confirm their age using a Swedish ID card or Svenska Spel's own gaming card. New gaming machines will be equipped with a card reader to carry out the checks. The first machines with card readers will be placed in Svenska Spel franchises from next year.
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