Copyright : Oleksandr Prykhodko

Online gaming operator 888 has become the latest big name to secure a Swedish online gambling licence, which will see the operator offer casino, poker and sports betting.

The Swedish regulator, the Lotteriinspektionen, has not yet issued a press release confirming the licence but 888 has released a statement to shareholders and the operator is now listed among the licence holders on the regulator’s website.

The full list of licensees can be viewed here. The operator joins rivals including bet365, Betsson, LeoVegas and Mr Green, which have all been awarded licences in Sweden in recent weeks.

888, which sees the 888.se, 888casino.se, 888poker.se and 888sport.se URLs listed, said the licence has been granted for a five-year period and will be effective from when the new regulated Swedish regime launches on January 1. The operator now holds licences in 11 online gaming jurisdictions.

Itai Frieberger, CEO of 888, said in a statement: “Continued expansion in regulated markets is central to 888’s growth strategy, so we are delighted to have been granted a licence in Sweden, ahead of the market’s regulation coming into force in January 2019.

“Sweden is a significant online gaming market and we look forward to further developing our casino, sport and poker offerings for our Swedish customers, so they can enjoy our innovative gaming products responsibly.

“Underpinned by our proprietary technology platform, marketing strength and CRM expertise, 888 has an outstanding track record of driving growth in newly regulated markets,” continued Frieberger.

“During the first half of 2018, the vast majority of the group’s revenues were generated in regulated and taxed markets. We expect this to further increase over the coming years, as more markets regulate online gaming and we continue to leverage our core capabilities to gain market share.”

The operator issued a trading update this week, details of which can be viewed here.