2023-05-102022/23:CU8 · p.2CUCivil law & housing
Telephone Sales of Lotteries and Other Games
Written-consent requirement for telemarketing of lottery tickets and games
What's at stake: Consumers contacted by phone about lottery tickets and games currently lack the same protection against binding oral agreements that applies to other telemarketing, which can increase the risk of pressured purchases and gambling-related harm.
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 written-consent requirement for telemarketing should be extended to cover lotteries and other games, or whether the outcome of the ongoing government inquiry into the matter should be awaited before any legal change.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, noting that parliament has already directed the government on this matter and that a government inquiry (SOU 2021:79) on extending the written-consent requirement is being prepared within the Government Offices; the outcome of that ongoing process should be awaited before further action is considered.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD, C)
SD and C want the government to promptly extend the written-consent requirement for telemarketing to also cover lotteries and other games, since this strengthens consumer protection and limits the negative consequences of gambling, and consider that their views should be taken into account in the continued processing of the inquiry.
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 1 by SD, C.
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: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:865 by Alireza Akhondi et al. (C) request 12 and 2022/23:1003 by Mikael Eskilandersson et al. (SD) request 18.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:865 av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C) yrkande 12 och 2022/23:1003 av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 18.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 70 proposals on consumer rights in motions from the ordinary motion period of 2022, primarily on the grounds that work is already underway on the matters addressed by the proposals. The proposals concern, among other things, telephone sales of lotteries and other games, advertising directed at children, purchase of live animals, quick loans, the travel guarantee system, consumer information, and labeling matters.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants telephone sales of lotteries and games to be covered by the written consent requirement. (SD, C) — Reservation 1
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 plan does not address written requirements in telephone sales, but it establishes that market power has a strong grip on media and that the struggle against commercialism is strategically important.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address written requirements in telephone sales, but it establishes that market power has a strong grip on media and that the struggle against commercialism is strategically important. It also emphasizes that the most vulnerable in society suffer hardest from addictions. An expanded written requirement for lotteries and gambling is consumer protection in that direction, and the position is therefore derived from these principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning, men den slår fast att marknadsmakten har ett starkt grepp om medier och att kampen mot kommersialismen är strategiskt viktig. Den betonar också att det är de mest utsatta i samhället som drabbas hårdast av beroenden. Ett utvidgat skriftlighetskrav för lotterier och spel är ett konsumentskydd i den riktningen, och ställningstagandet är därför härlett ur dessa principer.
- limit market powerdecisive»Marknadsmakten har ett starkt grepp om Internet, tv och kultur.« (party programme ↗)“Market power has a strong grip on the Internet, TV and culture.”
- struggle against commercialism»utgör en viktig del av kampen mot kommersialismen och för ett« (party programme ↗)“is an important part of the struggle against commercialism and for a”
- protect the most vulnerable»Droganvändningen är jämt fördelad över alla samhällsklasser men det är de mest utsatta i samhället som drabbas hårdast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Drug use is evenly distributed across all social classes but it is the most vulnerable in society who suffer hardest.”
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 party programme criticises that ever more areas of life are encompassed by market logic and that people's longing for community is made an object of hard commercial exploitation; it demands democratic counterweights and stable rules.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme criticises that ever more areas of life are encompassed by market logic and that people's longing for community is made an object of hard commercial exploitation; it demands democratic counterweights and stable rules. Children and young people shall have the right to a secure upbringing free from drugs. An expanded requirement for written documentation in telephone sales of lotteries and games is such a counterweight, although the plan does not mention the gambling market.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kritiserar att allt fler områden av tillvaron omfattas av marknadens logik och att människors längtan efter gemenskap görs till föremål för hård kommersiell exploatering; det kräver demokratiska motvikter och stabila spelregler. Barn och ungdomar ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt fri från droger. Ett utvidgat skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning av lotter och spel är en sådan motvikt, även om planen inte nämner spelmarknaden.
- counter commercial exploitationdecisive»längtan efter gemenskap och uppskattning görs till föremål för en hård kommersiell« (party programme ↗)“longing for community and appreciation is made an object of hard commercial”
- democratic counterweights to the market»Det krävs demokratiska motvikter för att skapa de stabila spelregler som behövs för att« (party programme ↗)“Democratic counterweights are required to create the stable rules that are needed for”
- secure upbringing without harmful use»och till en trygg uppväxt fri från droger och våld.« (party programme ↗)“and to a secure upbringing free from drugs and violence.”
- limits to market logic»Allt fler områden av den mänskliga tillvaron omfattas av marknadens logik.« (party programme ↗)“Ever more areas of human existence are encompassed by market logic.”
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 party programme wants strong consumer protection and for consumers to make free and informed choices, and goes so far as to demand a ban on gambling advertising.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants strong consumer protection and for consumers to make free and informed choices, and goes so far as to demand a ban on gambling advertising. An expanded requirement for written confirmation in telephone sales of lotteries and gambling aligns with the restrictive stance on gambling marketing and with consumer protection. The plan does not mention the written requirement, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill ha ett starkt konsumentskydd och att konsumenter kan göra fria och upplysta val, och går så långt som att kräva förbud mot reklam för spel. Ett utvidgat skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning av lotter och spel ligger i linje med den restriktiva hållningen till spelmarknadsföring och med konsumentskyddet. Planen nämner inte skriftlighetskravet, så ställningstagandet är härlett.
- restrictive stance on gambling advertisingdecisive»Sexistisk reklam och reklam riktad mot barn under tolv år ska vara förbjudet, liksom reklam för spel och alkohol.« (party programme ↗)“Sexist advertising and advertising directed at children under twelve years shall be prohibited, as shall advertising for gambling and alcohol.”
- strong consumer protection»Vi vill ha ett starkt skydd för konsumenterna genom god konsumentvägledning, tydlig märkning av varor och tjänster och en relevant konsumentutbildning i skolan.« (party programme ↗)“We want strong protection for consumers through good consumer guidance, clear labelling of goods and services and relevant consumer education in school.”
- informed consumer choices»Konsumenter ska ha möjligheter att göra fria och upplysta val.« (party programme ↗)“Consumers shall have opportunities to make free and informed choices.”
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 says nothing about written requirements for telephone sales or gambling.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about written requirements for telephone sales or gambling. The nearest principle is that a preventive public health perspective must permeate society and that society must provide conditions for the individual to take responsibility for their health. A written requirement that dampens impulse sales of gambling lies closest to this principle, but the basis is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning eller om spel. Närmast liggande princip är att ett förebyggande folkhälsoperspektiv ska genomsyra hela samhället och att samhället ska ge förutsättningar för individen att ta ansvar för sin hälsa. Ett skriftlighetskrav som dämpar impulsförsäljning av spel ligger närmast denna princip, men underlaget är svagt.
- preventive public health workdecisive»Folkhälsoperspektivet måste genomsyra hela samhället för att ge resultat.« (party programme ↗)“The public health perspective must permeate society to deliver results.”
- personal responsibility for health»förutsättningar för att individer ska kunna ta ansvar för sitt välbefinnande, sin hälsa och livsstil.« (party programme ↗)“conditions for individuals to be able to take responsibility for their wellbeing, their health and lifestyle.”
- avoid unnecessary regulatory burden»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clean up the bureaucratic jungle for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
The party programme requires that the individual's influence over contracts entered into in everyday life be strengthened through improved consumer and contract legislation, and that consumer laws give the right to correct information.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that the individual's influence over contracts entered into in everyday life be strengthened through improved consumer and contract legislation, and that consumer laws give the right to correct information. An extended requirement for written documentation in telephone sales of lottery and games is precisely such a strengthening of contract protection. The plan's damage mitigation principle and restrictive view on dependency-creating consumption point in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att den enskildes inflytande över de avtal som ingås i vardagen stärks genom förbättrad konsument- och avtalslagstiftning, och att konsumentlagarna ger rätt till korrekt information. Ett utvidgat skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning av lotter och spel är precis en sådan förstärkning av avtalsskyddet. Planens skadelindringsprincip och restriktiva syn på beroendeframkallande konsumtion pekar i samma riktning.
- strengthened consumer and contract lawdecisive»enskildes inflytande över de avtal som ingås i vardagen behöver stärkas genom förbättrad konsument- och« (party programme ↗)“individual's influence over contracts entered into in everyday life needs to be strengthened through improved consumer and”
- right to correct information»behövs en stark konkurrenslagstiftning och konsumentlagar som ger rätt till korrekt produktinformation.« (party programme ↗)“there is need for strong competition legislation and consumer laws that give the right to correct product information.”
- damage mitigation principle»Politiken ska utgå från en skadelindringsprincip.« (party programme ↗)“Policy shall be based on a damage mitigation principle.”
- support for consumers»Konsumenter ska ha tillgång till budget- och skuldrådgivning och opartisk konsumentvägledning i hela« (party programme ↗)“Consumers shall have access to budget and debt advice and impartial consumer guidance throughout”
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 requires that aggressive marketing methods be counteracted and that market economy is based on well-informed consumers and effective legal rules.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that aggressive marketing methods be counteracted and that market economy is based on well-informed consumers and effective legal rules. A written requirement for telephone sales of lotteries and games is such a rule, and the plan explicitly accepts competition restrictions for public health reasons, which gambling addiction is. The plan simultaneously values non-profit activities above commercial interests.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att aggressiva marknadsföringsmetoder motverkas och att marknadsekonomin bygger på välinformerade konsumenter och effektiva rättsliga spelregler. Ett skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning av lotter och spel är en sådan spelregel, och planen godtar uttryckligen konkurrensbegränsningar av folkhälsoskäl, vilket spelberoende är. Planen värnar samtidigt ideella verksamheters ställning framför kommersiella intressen.
- counteract aggressive marketingdecisive»reklam och i övrigt aggressiva marknadsföringsmetoder ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“advertising and otherwise aggressive marketing methods shall be counteracted.”
- effective consumer protection»och välinformerade konsumenter samt effektiva rättsliga spelregler.« (party programme ↗)“and well-informed consumers as well as effective legal rules.”
- regulation for public health reasons»exempelvis av folkhälsoskäl.« (party programme ↗)“for example for public health reasons.”
- non-profit before commercial»Ideell verksamhet ska prioriteras framför kommersiella intressen vid utformningen av statens och kommunernas fritidspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Non-profit activities shall be prioritized above commercial interests in the design of the state's and municipalities' leisure policy.”
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 establishes that crime directed at vulnerable people is particularly blameworthy and especially points out that telephone fraud is increasing rapidly, with measures to investigate fraud crimes against the elderly and a state support line.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that crime directed at vulnerable people is particularly blameworthy and especially points out that telephone fraud is increasing rapidly, with measures to investigate fraud crimes against the elderly and a state support line. A written requirement for telephone sales of lottery tickets protects the same group against pressure over the phone. The plan does not, however, address consumer protection in gambling, which is why the conclusion is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kriminalitet som riktar sig mot sårbara människor är extra klandervärd och lyfter särskilt att telefonbedrägerierna ökar kraftigt, med åtgärder för att utreda bedrägeribrott mot äldre och en statlig stödlinje. Ett skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning av lotter skyddar samma grupp mot påtryckningar per telefon. Planen behandlar dock inte konsumentskydd vid spel, varför slutsatsen är härledd och osäker.
- protection of vulnerable peopledecisive»Kriminalitet som riktar sig mot sårbara människor är extra klandervärd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Crime directed at vulnerable people is particularly blameworthy.”
- telephone sales as risk arena»Också telefonbedrägerierna ökar kraftigt i antal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Telephone fraud is also increasing rapidly in number.”
- measures against fraud»Satsa mer pengar på att utreda bedrägeribrott och annan brottslighet mot äldre« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest more money in investigating fraud crimes and other crimes against the elderly”
- support to vulnerable elderly»Utreda införandet av en statlig stödlinje för äldre brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investigate the introduction of a state support line for elderly crime victims”
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 documents do not address written requirements for telephone sales or gambling regulation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The documents do not address written requirements for telephone sales or gambling regulation. The nearest principle is the state's core task of looking after weak and disadvantaged individuals, together with the child's best interests and that work against mental ill-health should be prioritised. From that principle, expanded consumer protection against telephone sales of lotteries appears consistent with the plan, but the foundation is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten behandlar inte skriftlighetskrav vid telefonförsäljning eller spelreglering. Närmast liggande princip är statens kärnuppgift att ta hand om svaga och utsatta individer, tillsammans med att barnets bästa ska beaktas och att arbetet mot psykisk ohälsa ska prioriteras. Utifrån den principen framstår ett utvidgat konsumentskydd mot telefonförsäljning av lotter som förenligt med planen, men underlaget är svagt.
- protection of the vulnerabledecisive»omhändertagandet av svaga och utsatta individer« (party programme ↗)“care for weak and disadvantaged individuals”
- mental health prioritised»Arbetet med att stärka den psykiska hälsan måste prioriteras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen mental health must be prioritised.”
- the child's best interests»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interests should always be considered”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:CU8)
- Committee report full text (HA01CU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1003 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1007 — Krafttag mot överskuldsättning av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1231 — Ett hållbart småföretagande av Lorena Delgado Varas m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1385 — Räntetak för effektiv ränta gentemot låntagare av Patrik Jönsson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2162 — Förbud mot erbjudanden och kampanjer på sockerrika livsmedel av Yasmine Eriksson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2190 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2215 — Konsumentpolitik av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2272 — Romansbedrägerier av Alexander Christiansson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:471 — Förbud mot reklam för fossilbaserade produkter och tjänster av Mattias Jonsson och Dzenan Cisija (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:483 — Lag om att retuscherade bilder ska markeras av Eva Lindh och Åsa Eriksson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:490 — Förbud mot snabblån, stöd till skuldsatta och åtgärder mot reafusk av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:843 — Hållbara gröna och blå näringar av Daniel Bäckström m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:848 — En bättre digital säkerhet - stärkt cybersäkerhet för nutid och framtid av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:86 — Konsumentfrågor av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:865 — Hållbar konsumentpolitik av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:896 — Reklam - nej tack! av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:907 — Cirkulär ekonomi och kemikalier av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:966 — Brott mot företagare av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:976 — Framtidens e-sport av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament