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New CEO for Sweden's Gaming Monopoly: Svenska Spel
Fri, Jan 9th, 2009 @ 12:00am
Sweden's state-owned online poker and gambling operator Svenska Spel announced the appointment of Meta Persdotter as the company's new CEO, effective February 1st. The former CEO of retailer home decor chain Duka will take over the position vacated by Jesper Karrbrink, who resigned April 2008 due to differences in opinion on how Svenska Spel should be managed and the direction which it should take, shortly after Margareta Winberg took over as board chair last year.
Despite ongoing scrutiny of the Swedish monopoly by the European Commission, the Swedish National Gambling Consultation (Spel Utredningen) in December recommended that Svenska Spel retain its monopoly hold on what are considered the most problematic games: interactive games on the Internet which include online poker and bingo, as well as slot machines and casino activities. But a partial new model was proposed where sports betting licensing (odds games and tips games) could be opened to private operators by 2011, with the exception of betting on horse races.
The European Commission has for some time threatened to take Sweden to the European Court of Justice for denying other EU-registered gaming companies access to Sweden's market, as that right is guaranteed under EU rules.
Meta Persdotter commented on her new position, "Svenska Spel is the leading player in a market that is facing both changes and challenges. It feels incredibly inspiring to be given the task of leading one of the world's most prominent gaming companies into a very exciting future."
She further added, "Svenska Spel is a very strong brand with a presence in Swedish society that few other companies can match. This is a position that we must be proud of, at the same time making sure that we improve it as best we can."
Persdotter stated that she wanted Svenska Spel to continue to represent a healthy balance between exciting and entertaining games, with measures to prevent gaming-related problems.
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