2023-05-112022/23:KrU7 · p.3KrUCulture
E-sport
The status of esports and support for esports activities
What's at stake: How esports are classified affects access to public support and funding for esports clubs, as well as which activities young people and those unable to take part in physically demanding sports can get support to pursue.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should work to have esports recognized and supported on the same footing as traditional sport and culture, or whether the current arrangement should remain without a specific call to act.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee views positively the work esports organizations do to create meeting places and counter discrimination, but sees no reason to issue a formal call to the government on the matter and therefore rejects the motions calling for esports to be strengthened and placed on equal footing with sport.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C, MP)
The reservation (C, MP) argues that esports should be treated on par with other sport, since it serves the same social functions: it lets young people meet, cooperate, and run club activities. Esports is also more accessible to those kept away from physically demanding sports by injury, disability, or difficult upbringing, and research shows it brings health benefits such as improved memory and cognitive ability. The conditions for such leisure activities, which currently receive neither sport nor culture funding, should therefore be reviewed.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 4 by C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 89/0/0/18 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 56/0/0/12 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/62/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:335 by Rickard Nordin (C) points 1-4, 6 and 8-10, 2022/23:860 by Anne-Li Sjölund et al. (C) point 10, 2022/23:921 by Linda Lindberg et al. (SD) point 10, 2022/23:976 by Michael Rubbestad et al. (SD) points 1-3, 5, 7-9, 11, 14 and 15 and 2022/23:1365 by Lili André (KD).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:335 av Rickard Nordin (C) yrkandena 1-4, 6 och 8-10, 2022/23:860 av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C) yrkande 10, 2022/23:921 av Linda Lindberg m.fl. (SD) yrkande 10, 2022/23:976 av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1-3, 5, 7-9, 11, 14 och 15 samt 2022/23:1365 av Lili André (KD).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal for measures to ensure a healthy and safe gambling market. The measures proposed by the government include: the possibility to involve payment service providers to block bets and payment of winnings to and from unlicensed gambling operators the possibility for the Gambling Authority to purchase gambling services under assumed identity as part of supervision of gambling operators the possibility to store and forward personal data to prevent so-called match-fixing, that is when a sporting event has been manipulated in connection with betting the requirement for gambling operators to, upon request, provide information to the Police Authority needed to investigate crimes related to gambling. The measures mean changes to the Gambling Act that come into force July 1, 2023. At the same time, the Riksdag rejected approximately 50 proposals in motions on gambling issues from the general motion period of 2022. In particular, the Riksdag refers to previous positions and to the government proposal described above.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to ensure that a very large share of gambling occurs with licensed operators. (C, MP) — Reservation 4
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto requires that children and young people are given opportunities for municipally supported leisure activities and that leisure facilities are given better resources.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that children and young people are given opportunities for municipally supported leisure activities and that leisure facilities are given better resources. The party programme establishes that everyone should have the same right and opportunity to pursue culture and that a rich associational life and self-organisation should be protected. Looking at the conditions for e-sports, which today receives neither sports nor cultural subsidies, follows from these commitments about equal access to leisure and associational life.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att barn och ungdomar ges möjlighet till kommunalt stödda fritidsaktiviteter och att fritidsverksamheter ges bättre resurser. Partiprogrammet slår fast att alla ska ha samma rätt och möjlighet att utöva kultur och att ett rikt föreningsliv och självorganisering ska värnas. Att se över villkoren för e-sport, som i dag står utan både idrotts- och kulturanslag, följer av dessa åtaganden om likvärdig tillgång till fritid och föreningsliv.
- supported leisure activitiesdecisive»Ge barn och ungdomar möjligheter till kommunalt stödda fritidsaktiviteter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give children and young people opportunities for municipally supported leisure activities”
- equal access to culture»Alla ska ha samma rätt och möjlighet att utöva kultur« (party programme ↗)“Everyone should have the same right and opportunity to pursue culture”
- protect associational life»rikt föreningsliv och andra typer av självorganisering kan människor« (party programme ↗)“a rich associational life and other types of self-organisation can people”
- resources for leisure activities»Skola och fritidsverksamheter behöver ges bättre resurser, likaså socialtjänsten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School and leisure activities need to be given better resources, as does social services.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants access to leisure activities at reasonable costs to increase, both in sports and culture, and that persons with disabilities shall be able to live their life like others.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants access to leisure activities at reasonable costs to increase, both in sports and culture, and that persons with disabilities shall be able to live their life like others. The party programme sees civil society as the foundation of democracy and wants equal opportunity for participation for all. Reviewing the conditions for e-sports, which today falls outside both sports and cultural appropriations, follows from these commitments, but the plan does not mention e-sports.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill att tillgången till fritidsaktiviteter till rimliga kostnader ökar, både inom idrott och kultur, och att personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra. Partiprogrammet ser civilsamhället som demokratins underbyggnad och vill lika möjlighet till delaktighet för alla. Att se över villkoren för e-sport, som i dag hamnar utanför både idrotts- och kulturanslag, följer av dessa åtaganden, men planen nämner inte e-sport.
- increased access to leisure activitiesdecisive»Tillgången till fritidsaktiviteter till rimliga kostnader, både vad gäller idrott och kultur, behöver öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Access to leisure activities at reasonable costs, both in terms of sports and culture, needs to increase.”
- strengthened civil society»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
- equal participation»Vi socialdemokrater vill att alla ska ha lika förutsättningar och lika möjlighet till delaktighet« (party programme ↗)“We social democrats want all to have equal prerequisites and equal opportunity for participation”
- accessibility for all»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Persons with disabilities shall be able to live their life like others.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address e-sports. The nearest principles are the party programme's commitment to resources for grassroots and youth sports…
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address e-sports. The nearest principles are the party programme's commitment to resources for grassroots and youth sports including sports for people with disabilities, that there is need for plenty of places where young people can meet, and that inaccessibility in society is the real barrier for people with disabilities. Based on these principles the plan supports a review of conditions for e-sports, but the evidence is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte e-sport. Närmast liggande principer är partiprogrammets åtagande om resurser till bredd- och ungdomsidrott inklusive idrott för personer med funktionsnedsättning, att det behövs gott om platser där unga kan mötas, och att otillgängligheten i samhället är det verkliga hindret för personer med funktionsnedsättning. Utifrån dessa principer stöder planen en översyn av villkoren för e-sport, men underlaget är svagt.
- support for grassroots sports for alldecisive»Genom resurser till ungdoms- och breddidrotten, inklusive idrott för människor med funktionsnedsättning, korpidrott och motionsidrott, investerar vi i såväl livskvalitet som folkhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Through resources for youth and grassroots sports, including sports for people with disabilities, corps sports and recreational sports, we invest in both quality of life and public health.”
- inaccessibility is the barrier»Det är otillgängligheten i samhället som utgör det verkliga hindret för att personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna fungera och verka fritt.« (party programme ↗)“It is the inaccessibility in society that is the real barrier for people with disabilities to be able to function and act freely.”
- meeting places for young people»Det behövs gott om platser där barn och unga kan mötas och utöva friluftsliv, idrott och kultur.« (party programme ↗)“There is need for plenty of places where children and young people can meet and pursue outdoor life, sports and culture.”
The plan states that digitalization means that civil society works in more ways and that cross-border communities should be embraced in the same way as traditional ones.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that digitalization means that civil society works in more ways and that cross-border communities should be embraced in the same way as traditional ones. Politics' task according to the plan is to remove obstacles for this developmental force, which speaks for reviewing the conditions for e-sports. The plan does not mention e-sports, however, and the support is therefore derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att digitaliseringen gör att civilsamhället fungerar på fler sätt och att gränsöverskridande gemenskaper bör bejakas på samma sätt som de traditionella. Politikens uppgift är enligt planen att riva hinder för denna utvecklingskraft, vilket talar för att se över villkoren för e-sporten. Planen nämner dock inte e-sport, och stödet är därför härlett.
- digital communities equalleddecisive»att människor finner gränsöverskridande gemenskaper som bör bejakas på samma sätt som de traditionella.« (party programme ↗)“that people find cross-border communities which should be embraced in the same way as traditional ones.”
- remove obstacles for civil society»Politikens uppgift är att riva hinder och röja väg för denna utvecklingskraft.« (party programme ↗)“Politics' task is to remove obstacles and clear the way for this developmental force.”
- inclusive sport»Kulturen ska vara fri och oberoende, idrotten jämlik och inkluderande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Culture shall be free and independent, sport inclusive and inclusive.”
- civil society creates cohesion»socialt arbete och amatörkultur är tydliga exempel på hur civilsamhället skapar sammanhållning, integration« (party programme ↗)“social work and amateur culture are clear examples of how civil society creates cohesion, integration”
The party programme establishes that modern civil society exists in many forms, including network-based initiatives, and that the Liberal view of civil society explicitly includes voluntary engagement conducted digitally.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that modern civil society exists in many forms, including network-based initiatives, and that the Liberal view of civil society explicitly includes voluntary engagement conducted digitally. To review conditions for e-sports, which today falls between sports and culture funding, follows from that commitment. The plan's requirement for an accessible Sweden strengthens the argument that e-sports is open to those excluded from physically demanding sports.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att det moderna civilsamhället finns i många former, inklusive nätbaserade initiativ, och att den liberala synen på civilsamhället uttryckligen omfattar frivilligengagemang som bedrivs digitalt. Att se över villkoren för e-sport, som i dag faller mellan idrotts- och kulturanslagen, följer av det åtagandet. Planens krav på ett tillgängligt Sverige stärker argumentet om att e-sport är öppen för dem som stängs ute från fysiskt krävande idrott.
- civil society in many formsdecisive»Det moderna civilsamhället finns i många olika former, såväl traditionella folkrörelser som nya i huvudsak« (party programme ↗)“Modern civil society exists in many different forms, both traditional grassroots movements and new mainly”
- digital voluntary engagement»frivilligengagemang som bedrivs digitalt.« (party programme ↗)“voluntary engagement conducted digitally.”
- good conditions for civil society»Politiken ska bidra till att det civila samhället ges goda förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Policy shall contribute to civil society being given good conditions.”
- accessibility for all»Sverige ska vara ett tillgängligt land.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be an accessible country.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants commitment in associations to be supported because it involves democratic education, that public support is primarily directed towards children and young people's activities and that leisure activities are accessible also for people with disabilities.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants commitment in associations to be supported because it involves democratic education, that public support is primarily directed towards children and young people's activities and that leisure activities are accessible also for people with disabilities. E-sport's association activities and its accessibility respond to these commitments, which motivates a review of the conditions. The plan's emphasis on health and exercise in sports support makes equation with physical sport less self-evident.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att engagemang i föreningar stöds eftersom det innebär demokratisk fostran, att det offentliga stödet i första hand riktas mot barn- och ungdomsverksamhet och att fritidsaktiviteter är tillgängliga också för personer med funktionsnedsättning. E-sportens föreningsverksamhet och dess tillgänglighet svarar mot dessa åtaganden, vilket motiverar en översyn av villkoren. Planens betoning på hälsa och motion i idrottsstödet gör dock likställandet med fysisk idrott mindre självklart.
- accessible leisure activitiesdecisive»Likaså måste kultur- och fritidsaktiviteter vara« (party programme ↗)“Likewise, culture and leisure activities must be”
- support for children and young people»första hand inriktas mot barn- och ungdomsverksamhet.« (party programme ↗)“primarily directed towards children and young people's activities.”
- association life fosters democracy»innebär demokratisk fostran och normöverföring. Det« (party programme ↗)“involves democratic education and norm transmission. It”
- sport as health promotion»Hälsa, motion och olika former av idrott ska främjas och stödjas av kommunerna. Idrotten är en av våra« (party programme ↗)“Health, exercise and various forms of sport shall be promoted and supported by municipalities. Sport is one of our”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address e-sports. The most closely related principles are that policy must prioritize and exclude, that the state's core tasks come…
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address e-sports. The most closely related principles are that policy must prioritize and exclude, that the state's core tasks come first and that the public must not take on what others can do equally well. Derived from this, the proposal to equate e-sports with other sports and review its public support conditions is rejected, but the foundation is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte e-sport. Närmast liggande principer är att politiken måste prioritera och välja bort, att statens kärnuppgifter kommer först och att det offentliga inte ska ta på sig det som andra kan göra lika bra. Härlett ur detta avvisas att likställa e-sport med annan idrott och se över dess offentliga stödvillkor, men underlaget är svagt.
- prioritizing core tasksdecisive»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort« (party programme ↗)“Policy has an important task to prioritize and exclude”
- core tasks first»Allt detta måste fungera« (party programme ↗)“All of this must work”
- limited public commitment»Om något kan göras lika bra eller bättre av« (party programme ↗)“If something can be done equally well or better by”
The plan states that e-sports is a real sport and that e-sports' position shall be improved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that e-sports is a real sport and that e-sports' position shall be improved. The counter-proposal's demands that e-sports be treated equally with other sport and that conditions for these leisure activities be reviewed are precisely that commitment. The plan also emphasizes young people's computer interest as an asset and that everyone shall have access to sport regardless of background.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att e-sport är en sport på riktigt och att e-sportens ställning ska förbättras. Motförslagets krav på att e-sport likställs med annan idrott och att villkoren för dessa fritidsaktiviteter ses över är precis det åtagandet. Planen betonar också ungas datorintresse som en tillgång och att alla ska ha tillgång till idrott oavsett bakgrund.
- e-sports is sportdecisive»Det är dags att inse att E-sport är en sport på riktigt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to realize that e-sports is a real sport.”
- strengthened position for e-sports»Förbättra e-sportens ställning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve e-sports' position.”
- young people's computer interest as asset»Det stora datorintresse som återfinns bland många unga kan också utgöra en stor tillgång i vårt allt mer digitaliserade samhälle.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The great computer interest found among many young people can also constitute a great asset in our increasingly digitalized society.”
- sport accessible to all»Ge alla tillgång till idrott oavsett kön, ålder eller kulturell bakgrund« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give everyone access to sport regardless of gender, age or cultural background.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KrU7)
- Committee report full text (HA01KrU7)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1003 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1130 — Krafttag mot det illegala gatuspelet av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1142 — Spelmarknadspolitik av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1365 — Erkännande av e-sport som sport av Lili André (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:2054 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund, fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:226 — Åtgärder mot lootlådor och andra lotteriliknande moment inom dataspel av Fredrik Lindahl (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2309 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:33 Åtgärder för att säkerställa en sund och säker spelmarknad av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:2310 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:33 Åtgärder för att säkerställa en sund och säker spelmarknad av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:329 — Lagar och regler som bör avskaffas av Rickard Nordin och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:335 — Utveckla e-sporten och spelandet i Sverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2022/23:347 — Omsättningsgräns för lotterier för allmännyttiga ändamål av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2022/23:745 — Reglering av spelmarknaden och ökat skydd för personer med spelberoende av Nicklas Attefjord (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:860 — Ett idrottsliv, friluftsliv och civilsamhälle tillgängligt för alla av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:865 — Hållbar konsumentpolitik av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:921 — ANDTS och missbruks- och beroendevård av Linda Lindberg m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:976 — Framtidens e-sport av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:983 — Matchfixning och straffskärpningar av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2022/23:33 — Åtgärder för att säkerställa en sund och säker spelmarknad
Source: The Swedish Parliament