Unibet in Sweden as an example of responsible gambling sponsorship?

One option to advertise a company and use some gambling companies are sponsorship partnerships between companies and professional sports teams and sports leagues. A ban on these is currently being discussed in politics in some countries in Europe.

Enlightenment instead of sponsoring ban

In order to improve player protection, some countries – including Great Britain, the Netherlands and USA – see a ban on sponsorship. The Swedish gambling group Kindred considers this radical step to be unnecessary and suggests a different path. Unabet is mentioned as an example in the press release. Kindred’s subsidiary shows how gambling sponsoring is definitely compatible with the player protection. The company has a sponsorship partnership with the Swedish Football Association SEF. According to Kindred, this cooperation is a responsible gambling sponsoring.

For Unibet, information about gambling addiction is an important part of the agreement with SEF. According to Kindred, this means that Unibet will inform the footballers in the two SEF soccer leagues-Allsvenskan and Superskan-about gaming search risks as well as the problem regarding betting fraud and game manipulation. Accordingly, training courses on the topics are mandatory for all Swedish trainers and players in the agreed leagues. In particular, the applicable legislation regarding betting and gambling is discussed within the courses. The players also have to fill out a questionnaire about their own game behavior. On the one hand, the players are supposed to make their own game behavior more conscious and on the other hand, the players should recognize warning signs of excessive gambling earlier.

In addition to these measures, there is also an integrity officer in every team. The selected person in this post is supposed to work closely with the team. Both measures against betting fraud and extensive knowledge of responsible gambling be acquired. At the same time, a bridge between the club, the SEF and the authorities is to be created.

Betting fraud scandals in Swedish professional football

In recent years, Swedish professional football has had to deal with betting fraud a few times. Among other things, the footballer Pawel Cibicki was involved in one of the betting fraud scandals. Only a few days ago the judgment confirmed the judgment in this case by the Swedish Supreme Court. In December, the court found the professional footballer of the game manipulation in the second instance. Cibicki, who played for Leeds United, Malmö FF and other clubs, was imposed on a suspended sentence, the duration of which is not known. In addition, the footballer is blocked by football for an indefinite duration.

Kindred would like to get together with Unibet and together with professional football, mother and subsidiaries want to work to ensure that gambling addiction and play manipulation in the sporting area are fought sustainably. The mandatory training for players and trainers is to be expanded at football academies in Sweden. This should also create awareness of responsible gambling among young players. These measures should make responsible sponsorship possible. PR- and sponsoring managers-differently Falk-said: “We should move the discussion away from the question” Should the sport be sponsored through gambling companies? “To“ How can we use sponsorship the gambling industry for consumers And better shape? ”If the industries for gambling, sports and media together with politicians and other stakeholders set the same focus, we can accelerate the creation of the safest entertainment environment.”

Instead of “whether” the question “how”

Together with the Global -known research institute Karolinska, Unibet wants to ensure that it is up to date with the latest knowledge of players in Stockholm. Based on the research operated in the institute Gambling addiction Together with Karolinska, Unibet would like to include the best measures for player protection in the gambling industry.