ATG Chief Suggests Openness in Swedish Tax Amendment Talks

The head of ATG recommends being receptive during discussions about changes to Sweden's tax laws.

Hans Lord Skarplöth, the CEO of ATG, has stated that the Swedish government may rethink its plan to raise the gambling tax from 18% to 22% in July. He mentioned this possibility after a meeting with 20 politicians.

Seminar Highlights

• ATG, a betting company started in 1974, hosted a seminar.
• 20 Swedish politicians attended.
• The CEO shared concerns about the tax rise.
• No details on a tiered tax system were provided.

The CEO of ATG thinks that if taxes go up, gamblers might start playing with unsafe, unofficial companies. He points out that these businesses pull in players by offering promotions and using tactics that aren't allowed in Sweden.

Response from Politicians

At a seminar, Sweden's financial markets minister, Niklas Wykman, said that raising taxes might cause problems for how businesses are regulated. He is willing to talk about different ways of taxing. He called the situation "exploitation," which is a view shared by the CEO.

Government’s Stance

The government is still working hard to stop illegal betting. Wykman says they are focused on fighting the crime of money laundering and making sure customers are treated fairly. Currently, only 77% of all gambling is done legally, and for online casinos, it's even lower at 72%, missing the goal of 90%.

ATG’s Efforts

The CEO of ATG stated that it is important to get money to support horse racing. He also said that illegal gambling businesses are causing problems for Sweden's lawful gambling industry.

In early March, Sweden's gaming authority reported that the country's gambling business had a 1% decline in money made compared to last year.

The Way Forward

Minister Wykman's openness gives ATG the opportunity to concentrate on the important political meeting in Almedalen and set a clear objective. Skarplöth is hopeful that the upcoming discussions will tackle existing problems and lead to a more secure and reliable gambling sector in Sweden.