Play’n GO poll reveals 55% of Swedish slot players think Bonus Buy games should be banned
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iGaming content providerPlay'n GOhas revealed that a recent poll conducted by the company in Sweden shows overwhelming support for the prohibition of the slot mechanic featured in Bonus Buy games.
The results of the nationally representative survey in Sweden include the following findings:
- Seven out of ten members of the general Swedish public (69%) support changing the regulation to ban Bonus Buy games.
Among the respondents who want to see the slot game banned,two-thirds of the public (66%), and more than half of slot players in Sweden (52%),believe Bonus Buy games exploit vulnerable gamblers. Further, nearly two-thirds of slot players themselves (63%) think that Bonus Buy games result in higher losses for players.
So-called Bonus Buy games allow players to buy directly into the bonus or free spins round of a slot game, explains Play'n GO, "in many cases for hundreds of times more than their initial stake for a single spin."
The provider says that the "controversial game type" is banned by some of the world's leading regulators, including KSA of the Netherlands and the UK Gambling Commission, who reiterated their stance in a reminder to all online casino operators back in January 2020 that stated: "Gambling products must not actively encourage customers to increase their stake or increase the amount they have decided to gamble."
The findings by Play'n GO also revealed that Swedish slot players think that:
- Changing the regulation to align with the UK and the Netherlands regarding Bonus Buy games is the "responsible thing to do" (61%).
- A change in the regulation shows that "the Swedish government is taking gambling issues seriously" (63%).
- They would be proud if the gambling regulator prohibited "Bonus Buy" games (53%).
In December, the Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen reported that Spelpaus, the centralized national self-exclusion system, surpassed 100,000 registered users for the first time.
Johan Törnqvist, CEO and Co-founder of Play'n GO, said: "Play'n GO has been a consistent and vocal advocate for a sustainable, regulated, and thriving gaming industry that is based around an 'entertainment-first' mindset for many years.
"I pledged as far back as 2021 that Play'n GO would never make a Bonus Buy game – a decision that has cost us hundreds of millions of Swedish Krona – but I stand by that decision. Bonus buy games are harmful to players, and to the long-term health and sustainability of the entire industry, and they should be excluded from the regulated Swedish market."
Over half of the Swedish public (51%) described game suppliers who have decided not to make 'Bonus Buy' games as "responsible", with more than a quarter choosing 'ethical' or 'brave'. The exclusive research was conducted among people in Sweden who reported that they played slots at least once per month, notes the supplier.
Earlier this month, Play'n GO announced a new slot release titled Undefeated Xerxes, which adds to Play'n GO's collection of Greek Mythology-themed slots, joining titles like Gates of Troy, Rise of Olympus, and Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena.
The game transports players to ancient Greece to relive the legendary Battle of Thermopylae alongside King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, facing off against the Persian army led by Xerxes.
