Sweden’s gambling regulator has calculated the latest channelisation rate at 86 per cent for 2023.

The government had commissioned Spelinspektionen to help the industry better understand the prevalence of the illegal market and what percentage of players are playing via licensed operators.

The regulator said “several different methods” were considered before it settled on using four key indicators to make the assessment.

Alongside data supplied by H2 Gambling Capital, a survey of player behaviour, the measurement of internet traffic and the estimation of turnover from internet traffic can together give an accurate picture of the channelisation rate, the regulator said.

“The results show that the degree of channelling varies depending on the method and form of play,” said Spelinspektionen’s director general, Camilla Rosenberg.

The regulator added: “In an earlier report this year, the Swedish Gaming Authority drew the government’s attention to the need for the Gambling Act’s scope of application regarding online games to change.

“Today, there is significant gambling by Swedish players at unlicensed gambling companies that fall outside the scope of the Gambling Act.

“The companies that are currently in the grey zone of the application area are affected by neither the licensing system’s regulations nor the Gambling Inspectorate’s work to prevent illegal gambling.”