Sweden halts lottery sales following telemarketing scandal targeting elderly individuals

The Social Democratic Party of Sweden announced on Thursday that it would halt the sale of its lotteries following a review indicating that telemarketers targeted vulnerable elderly individuals while withholding important information. Erik Nises stated that trust in the associated company A-lotterierna and its subsidiary Kombispel had been severely compromised.

He emphasized that the lottery’s management had taken significant risks with the trust of its members, resulting in detrimental consequences that necessitate accountability. Nises criticized the decision to outsource lottery sales to a telemarketing firm in Spain, which likely lacks Swedish labor agreements. He argued that this approach contradicts the party’s values, especially since they have advocated for stricter regulations in the gambling industry.

“This is a matter of ethics and morality, and we are all critical of it,” Nises remarked, adding that he is not alone in his strong reaction within the party. He urged the party leadership to address this issue promptly, holding those responsible accountable for ensuring that operations do not lead to controversies or scandals.

The review revealed that sales agents were instructed to adopt aggressive tactics during calls, specifically targeting elderly individuals who often struggled to understand the terms of the lottery, which were frequently presented as subscription services. Group leader Lena Hallengren stated that these sales methods contradicted the party’s intentions for its lottery operations and expected Kombispel to thoroughly investigate these practices.