2024-04-242023/24:KrU9 · p.11KrUCulture
Regulation of political parties' lotteries
What's at stake: Lotteries provide some political parties with significant income beyond public party funding, and how the rules are designed affects parties' financial independence and the competitive conditions between parties with different funding sources.
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 ongoing work to review the rules for political parties' lottery activities should be allowed to continue as planned, or whether parliament should already signal that parties' ability to run lotteries for their own financing should not be restricted.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee points to ongoing work reviewing the regulation of party-political lotteries and therefore rejects the motions pending the outcome of that work.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 16 (S, V, MP)
The reserving parties consider that lotteries for public-benefit purposes carry little risk of unhealthy gambling and are an important source of income, that restricting parties' lottery activities would have an uneven impact because the revenue is unevenly distributed among the parties, and want the government not to proceed with the review.
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 16 by S, V, 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 | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | Yes | No 0/16/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 22/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2023/24:413 by Mikael Eskilandersson et al. (SD) demand 19, 2023/24:467 by Jonas Andersson et al. (SD) demand 9 and 2023/24:2686 by Lawen Redar et al. (S) demand 43.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:413 av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 19, 2023/24:467 av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 9 och 2023/24:2686 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S) yrkande 43.
Riksdag decision: New rules are to strengthen consumer protection in connection with gambling. Parliament said yes to the government's proposal, which addresses limiting the problems that gambling causes such as debt and addiction. A written requirement for telephone sales of gambling will be introduced. After a telephone conversation, the consumer must accept an offer in writing for the contract to be valid. The decision also means that gambling companies with a Swedish gambling license have the right to access personal information about finances and health that the players themselves have provided, in order to prevent excessive gambling. Furthermore, the decision includes increased sanctions fees for gambling companies that violate the money laundering law. The new rules enter into force on June 1, 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to take into account the connection between video gaming and gambling problems in regulation. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 16
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 parties' lottery activities.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address parties' lottery activities. The nearest principle is that strong and independent grassroots movements shall be protected and that the space between commercial logic and the public sphere shall be widened. Not pursuing sharpened rules for non-profit lotteries points in that direction, but the conclusion rests only on a general principle and is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte partiers lotteriverksamhet. Närmast liggande princip är att starka och självständiga folkrörelser ska värnas och att utrymmet mellan den kommersiella logiken och den offentliga sfären ska vidgas. Att inte driva vidare skärpta regler för allmännyttiga lotterier ligger i den riktningen, men slutsatsen vilar enbart på en allmän princip och är osäker.
- protect independent grassroots movementsdecisive»Vänsterpartiet värnar starka och självständiga folkrörelser som kan bidra till progressiva samhällsförändringar« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party protects strong and independent grassroots movements that can contribute to progressive social change”
- separate organizational life from commercial gambling»Det är av stort strategiskt värde i vår socialistiska och feministiska frihetssträvan att värna och vidga det utrymme som finns mellan den kommersiella logiken och den statliga eller kommunala sfären.« (party programme ↗)“It is of great strategic value in our socialist and feminist freedom struggle to protect and widen the space that exists between commercial logic and the state or municipal sphere.”
The documents say nothing about parties' or public benefit lotteries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The documents say nothing about parties' or public benefit lotteries. Closest lies the programme's requirement that policy shall create good conditions for civil society and civic movements, which argues for not limiting an established income source for activity based on civic movements. At the same time the programme requires openness about the financing of parties, which pulls in the other direction; the conclusion is therefore uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten säger ingenting om partiers eller allmännyttiga lotterier. Närmast ligger programmets krav att politiken ska skapa goda villkor för civilsamhället och folkrörelserna, vilket talar för att inte begränsa en etablerad intäktskälla för folkrörelsebaserad verksamhet. Samtidigt kräver programmet öppenhet om partiernas finansiering, vilket drar åt andra hållet; slutsatsen är därför osäker.
- good conditions for civil societydecisive»formas i en levande dialog med det civila samhälle och ska skapa goda villkor för« (party programme ↗)“is formed in a living dialogue with civil society and shall create good conditions for”
- civic movements bear democracy»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
- openness about party financing»Partierna ska vara skyldiga att öppet redovisa de bidrag de erhåller från utomstående« (party programme ↗)“Parties shall be obliged to openly report contributions they receive from external”
The party programme wants legislation requiring that political parties and candidates disclose their donors, that all forms of corruption are countered and that influence shall not be determined by economic resources.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants legislation requiring that political parties and candidates disclose their donors, that all forms of corruption are countered and that influence shall not be determined by economic resources. Stopping an investigation into stricter rules for parties' lotteries goes against that line, especially when revenues are unevenly distributed between parties. The party moreover has a restrictive view on the gambling market.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill ha en lag om att politiska partier och kandidater offentliggör sina bidragsgivare, att alla former av korruption motarbetas och att inflytande inte ska avgöras av ekonomiska resurser. Att stoppa en utredning om skärpta regler för partiers lotterier går emot den linjen, särskilt när intäkterna är ojämnt fördelade mellan partierna. Partiet har dessutom en restriktiv syn på spelmarknaden.
- open party financingdecisive»partier och enskilda kandidater ska offentliggöra« (party programme ↗)“parties and individual candidates shall disclose”
- influence not by money»ska inte avgöras av vilka ekonomiska resurser man« (party programme ↗)“shall not be determined by what economic resources one”
- counter corruption»kunna granska makten. Alla former av korruption« (party programme ↗)“scrutinise power. All forms of corruption”
- restrictive gambling policy»förbjudet, liksom reklam för spel och alkohol.« (party programme ↗)“forbidden, as is advertising for gambling and alcohol.”
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 rules for financing of political parties should be tightened and that parties' resistance to influence and infiltration shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that rules for financing of political parties should be tightened and that parties' resistance to influence and infiltration shall be strengthened. To stop the investigation into tightened rules for party political lotteries goes against that commitment, as does the plan's broader requirement for transparency and anti-corruption work. That public-benefit lotteries more broadly are valuable for civil society does not change that assessment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att reglerna för finansiering av politiska partier bör skärpas och att partiernas motståndskraft mot påverkan och infiltration ska rustas. Att avbryta utredningen om skärpta regler för partipolitiska lotterier går emot det åtagandet, liksom mot planens bredare krav på transparens och antikorruptionsarbete. Att allmännyttiga lotterier i övrigt är värdefulla för civilsamhället ändrar inte den bedömningen.
- tightened rules for party financingdecisive»Reglerna för finansiering av politiska partier bör skärpas och deras motståndskraft mot yttre påverkan och infiltration rustas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Rules for financing of political parties should be tightened and their resistance to external influence and infiltration strengthened.”
- anti-corruption and insight»Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobby register.”
- increased transparency»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent.”
- civil society's income»Det civila samhället, människornas frivilliga organisering, är en fundamental del av varje väl fungerande demokrati och välfärdsstat.« (party programme ↗)“Civil society, people's voluntary organising, is a fundamental part of any well-functioning democracy and welfare state.”
The plan says nothing about party lotteries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about party lotteries. The only related commitment on party funding concerns openness, that sources shall be disclosed according to law, not that income sources shall be limited. Together with the requirement that politics give civil society good conditions and value the conditions for political engagement, this argues for the counter-proposal's line, but the basis is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om partiers lotterier. Den enda närliggande utfästelsen om partifinansiering gäller öppenhet, att källorna ska redovisas enligt lag, inte att intäktskällor ska begränsas. Tillsammans med kravet att politiken ska ge civilsamhället goda förutsättningar och värna villkoren för politiskt engagemang talar detta för motförslagets linje, men underlaget är svagt.
- open party financingdecisive»källorna för sin finansiering ska vara reglerad i lag.« (party programme ↗)“the sources for their financing shall be regulated by law.”
- good conditions for civil society»Politiken ska bidra till att det civila samhället ges goda förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Politics shall contribute to civil society being given good conditions.”
- conditions for political engagement»Demokratin förutsätter att medborgare vill och vågar engagera sig politiskt. Den grundläggande« (party programme ↗)“Democracy requires that citizens want and dare to engage politically. The fundamental”
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 parties' lotteries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address parties' lotteries. The closest lying principle is that non-profit activities shall be prioritized over commercial interests and that donations to non-profit organizations should be tax-exempt, which speaks for mild conditions for public benefit lotteries. The plan also sees competition restrictions as something that should only occur exceptionally.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte partiers lotterier. Närmast liggande princip är att ideell verksamhet ska prioriteras framför kommersiella intressen och att gåvor till ideella organisationer bör vara skattebefriade, vilket talar för milda villkor för allmännyttiga lotterier. Planen ser också konkurrensbegränsningar som något som endast undantagsvis bör förekomma.
- non-profit before commercialdecisive»Ideell verksamhet ska prioriteras framför kommersiella intressen vid utformningen av statens och kommunernas fritidspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Non-profit activities shall be prioritized over commercial interests in the design of state and municipal leisure policy.”
- restrictive regulation»Monopol och konkurrensbegränsningar får endast förekomma undantagsvis« (party programme ↗)“Monopolies and competition restrictions may only occur exceptionally”
- favorable conditions for non-profit sector»Gåvor till ideella organisationer bör vara skattebefriade.« (party programme ↗)“Donations to non-profit organizations should be tax-exempt.”
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 partisan lotteries.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about partisan lotteries. The closest underlying principles are that red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy shall be significantly reduced and that a vibrant political life and strong independent institutions outside the state shall be protected. Based on these, the plan provides weak support for the counter-proposal's demand that tightened rules are not pursued further.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om partipolitiska lotterier. Närmast liggande principer är att regelkrångel och onödig byråkrati kraftigt ska minska och att ett levande politiskt liv och starka självständiga institutioner utanför staten ska värnas. Utifrån dessa ger planen ett svagt stöd åt motförslagets krav på att skärpta regler inte drivs vidare.
- reduced regulatory burdendecisive»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one third of companies' administrative costs and one third of red tape”
- vibrant political life»Sverige ska ha ett levande politiskt liv« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have a vibrant political life”
- strong civil society»Starka självständiga samhällsinstitutioner bidrar till att balansera makten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Strong independent civil society institutions contribute to balancing power in society.”
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 lotteries or the financing of parties.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The documents do not address lotteries or the financing of parties. The nearest related principle is that the public should highlight and support the voluntary sector without overly limiting its freedom of action, and that regulations around associations should be characterized by a constructive spirit. Not pursuing further tightened rules for charitable lotteries lies closest to that principle, but the position is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten behandlar inte lotterier eller partiers finansiering. Den närmast liggande principen är att det offentliga ska lyfta fram och stödja den ideella sektorn utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess handlingsfrihet, och att regelverk kring föreningslivet ska präglas av en konstruktiv anda. Att inte driva vidare skärpta regler för allmännyttiga lotterier ligger närmast den principen, men ställningstagandet är osäkert.
- support without restricting the voluntary sectordecisive»att lyfta fram och stödja den ideella sektorn utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess« (party programme ↗)“that highlight and support the voluntary sector without overly limiting its”
- constructive regulations for associations»Tillståndsprocesser och regelverk bör präglas av samverkan mellan myndigheter, idrottsklubbar och supporterrörelse utifrån en konstruktiv anda.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Permission processes and regulations should be characterized by cooperation between authorities, sports clubs and supporter movement based on a constructive spirit.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KrU9)
- Committee report full text (HB01KrU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1633 — Sveriges 13 sämsta lagar av Rickard Nordin och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1662 — Utökning av Spelinspektionens mandat av Alexandra Völker (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1876 — Idrottspolitiska frågor av Amanda Lind och Jacob Risberg (båda MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1884 — Levla upp spelpolitiken av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2067 — ANDTS och missbruks- och beroendevård av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2294 — Krafttag mot det illegala gatuspelet av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:236 — Åtgärder mot lootlådor och andra lotteriliknande moment inom dataspel av Fredrik Lindahl (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2463 — Konsumentpolitik av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2483 — Kultur, civilsamhälle, idrott och medier i hela landet av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2686 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund och fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2736 — E-sport och spelande i Sverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2803 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:53 Åtgärder för att stärka konsumentskyddet och bekämpa kriminell verksamhet i samband med spel om pengar av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2812 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:53 Åtgärder för att stärka konsumentskyddet och bekämpa kriminell verksamhet i samband med spel om pengar av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:348 — Framtidens e-sport av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:354 — Matchfixning och straffskärpningar av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:413 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:467 — Spelmarknadspolitik av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:784 — Stärkt regelverk kring lootboxar av Per-Arne Håkansson (S)
- Motion 2023/24:987 — Idrott, friluftsliv och civilsamhälle av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Proposition 2023/24:53 — Åtgärder för att stärka konsumentskyddet och bekämpa kriminell verksamhet i samband med spel om pengar
Source: The Swedish Parliament