A representative of Sweden’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has become the Chairman of an international sports corruption group.
Through his work as the coordinator of operations against match-fixing, Samuel Wahlberg has been put forward by the regulator and subsequently elected as the Chairman of the Group of Copenhagen.
The Group represents a network of national platforms and acts as an advisory body under the Council of Europe in order to support countries in their fight against manipulation of sports events.
It helps coordinate the exchange of international expertise and best practices for the detection and prevention of sports fraud, with the strategy falling under the remit of the Macolin Convention.
The Convention is an international policy adopted in 2014, signed by 32 European countries and ratified by eight member states – with Sweden doing so in 2024. In addition, Australia and Morocco are also co-signees.
Last year, the document’s adoption in Sweden was met with significant support from the local government, with the Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wykman then adding: “There must be order in the Swedish gaming market. The decision today means that we can continue to suppress crime and create security for those who play.”
Sweden offers a wide variety of betting markets through major operators like Unibet, Bettsson, LeoVegas, Entain’s bwin, state-owned Svenska Spel, and ATG – Sweden’s largest horseracing operator.
Sports on offer can be everything – from the widely popular basketball, tennis, and football, to more niche verticals such as MotoGP, table tennis, and even esports. Such a diverse market at hand requires in-depth anti-fraud policies such as the Macolin Convention to maintain its integrity.
On his appointment as Chairman of the Group of Copenhagen, Wahlberg commented: “I am grateful for the support of the group. As Chairman, I want to continue to keep the Macolin Convention’s momentum going by promoting ratifications, helping to establish more national platforms and broadening the geographical reach.”