Swedish gambling chief resigns

It’s all over for Jesper Kärrbrink, the now former CEO at Sweden’s gambling monopoly Svenska Spel. Kärrbrink is leaving his post due to conflicts with the company’s directors on how the Swedish gambling monopoly needs to be run.

Or is it?

“Lately it has become obvious that my ideas on how to run Svenska Spel do not agree with the conception of the owner,” Karrbrink said about his departure. “Therefore, I and the Board have reached a mutual understanding that the best thing to do in this situation is that the Board finds a successor as CEO.

“My years with Svenska Spel have been fantastic, I will remember them with much delight – especially all the wonderful co-workers and their incredible commitment,” he said.

The recently appointed Svenska Spel board chairperson Margareta Winberg has issued her own statement concerning Kärrbrink’s departure:

“I regret that Jesper Kärrbrink now leaves Svenska Spel,” said Winberg. “He has been a creative leader and has re-organised Svenska Spel in an efficient way. But I also understand Jesper’s situation. If you do not share the owner’s fundamental perspective on how the company should be governed you can no longer be the leader of the company.”

Those of you who have been following the stellar growth of online bingo in the Scandinavian market will also be aware of the pressure being put on Sweden’s gambling monopoly by the European Commission. It’s this pressure that is obviously behind Kärrbrink’s resignation.

Kärrbrink has done a great job at Svenksa Spel where the company has seen excellent growth over the years to become a powerhouse in online gaming, including online bingo games. Kärrbrink has also signed an agreement not to work for a competing company for one year.

So what happens in one year? Will we see Svenska Spel confronted by the double whammy of losing its monopoly status and the emergence of Kärrbrink at a competing company? I wonder if Kärrbrink will take his expertise into the bingo online industry if he does decide to stick with online gaming. After all, the market for those who play online bingo in Sweden is one of the most robust in the world.

Written by Bingo Lady