SWEDEN: -10% ON HORSE BETTING IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025

The figures for horse racing betting in Sweden for the first quarter of 2025 are not good, according to Lotta Nilsson Viitala, CFO of Atg, the body that governs betting in Sweden, in a press release stating that the volume of betting on horse racing in the first quarter of 2025 fell by 10%. Among the reasons for the negative balance are the sharp increase in taxation (at the end of 2024, taxation rose from 18% to 22%), the effects of the calendar with Easter falling much later than last year (the Easter weekend is usually very favourable for betting) and also the presence of fewer jackpots in the most popular bets. There was strong competition from sports betting, whose revenues increased by 14%. The positive news is that the number of bettors also increased in horse racing, but the amount of betting decreased, meaning that people are betting less. This was confirmed by Lotta Nilsson Vittala.