Svenska Spel has set aside over SEK 60 million to support Swedish research on gambling and gambling problems, and now another SEK 42 million will be added over the next five years. 

Svenska Spel’s independent research council has made it possible to finance projects that, in competition with a number of other areas, previously had difficulty being financed via more generally oriented research councils in Sweden. Basically, it is about creating strong consumer protection with methods that are proven to work.

Svenska Spel’s decision means that the company will continue to finance the work of the independent research council and Anders Håkansson’s gaming professorship at Lund University for another five years, until 2027. In total, just over SEK 42 million will be set aside for the support. Of these funds, SEK 25 million is earmarked for research grants.

– Social community efforts and addiction care need the right tools at the right time. The long-term investment in research on gambling contributes to knowledge of effective methods for preventing and treating gambling addiction. To develop the right interventions for those who need it most requires patience, commitment and research at the forefront, says Sara Lindholm, chairwoman of the Research Council.

The Research Council has been a driving force and a central part in establishing the research field around gambling problems in Sweden, says Patrik Hofbauer, president and CEO of Svenska Spel. There are still many unanswered questions about how best to prevent and treat gambling addiction. With that in mind, our continued support feels right both from a business and a humanitarian perspective.

A recent survey shows the need for further game research and to broaden future research and to broaden relations both internationally and also with nearby research fields in Sweden according to the respondents.