Betsson CEO Svensson Details Canada Acquisition, Italian Growth and Regulatory Balance for 2026
TL;DR — Jesper Svensson detailed Betsson’s CAD $100m Canada entry via Rhino acquisition and faster-than-market growth in Italy’s €21.5bn 2025 sector. He cautioned that pan-EU taxes atop local rates risk black-market gains and channelisation failure. Nearing ten years as CEO, Svensson prioritizes market-specific agility and targeted AI use.
SCCG Take — High taxes that erode regulated operators invite black-market competition and reduce consumer safeguards. Betsson’s localized acquisitions and measured tech adoption illustrate disciplined navigation of uneven jurisdictional conditions.
Betsson CEO Jesper Svensson has outlined selective expansion plans and a measured stance on European regulatory shifts as the operator prepares for further growth. The comments came in an interview with SBC News ahead of Svensson’s panel appearance at the SBC Summit in Lisbon.
Betsson maintains a presence in 25 key markets. The company recently reached an agreement to acquire Rhino Entertainment Group’s Canadian B2C business and certain B2B technology assets for approximately CAD $100m. Svensson told SBC News the move delivers “the opportunity to take a leap into the market and really make our mark – quickly and efficiently.”
Italy stands as a core jurisdiction. The Italian market recorded €21.5bn in gross gambling revenues in 2025, accounting for 41.4% of the total European online casino market. Svensson reported that Betsson grew faster than the overall market last year despite entering relatively recently.
Regulatory Caution and Channelisation Risks
Svensson voiced pragmatism toward early talks of a potential pan-EU gambling tax. He noted that replacing local taxes with such a framework could unify the European structure, but imposition on top of existing rates “would be unsustainable.” Some countries already apply extremely high tax rates on online gaming.
The CEO warned that escalating taxes threaten channelisation. “When tax levels become too high, the competition doesn’t come from other regulated companies; it comes from the black market.” He added that the balance between taxation, regulation and channelisation must remain a priority, as over-squeezing the regulated segment while the black market thrives weakens consumer protections and tax revenue.
Leadership Tenure, AI Utility and Event Focus
Svensson approaches ten years as CEO, one of the industry’s longest tenures among non-founder executives. Betsson executed a €40m share repurchase programme following its Q1 results. On artificial intelligence, he stressed deployment only where it delivers measurable impact in operations, product development and marketing rather than universal integration.
Svensson will participate in the “Super CEO Panel: The Industry Speaks” at the SBC Summit Lisbon, set for 29 September to 1 October 2026. He described the event as an efficient venue for peer validation and stakeholder meetings in one location.
Reporting: SBC News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Over-taxing regulated operators feeds the black market — Betsson's disciplined expansion shows how to navigate fragmented jurisdictions without losing margin.
We've navigated regulatory shifts across every major jurisdiction for three decades. Svensson's warning on channelisation risk is exactly what we brief clients on daily: high taxes don't just hurt margins, they drive players offshore and erode the legal framework we all fought to build. Betsson's measured approach — acquiring local footholds like Rhino, outpacing Italy's growth, deploying AI only where it pays — is the playbook for disciplined global expansion.
- Betsson acquiring Rhino's Canada B2C for ~CAD $100m to accelerate entry
- Grew faster than Italy's €21.5bn market despite relatively recent launch
- CEO warns layering pan-EU tax atop local rates fuels black-market competition
SCCG angle: SCCG connects operators to on-the-ground partners — licensing advisors, payment processors, compliance teams — in every live Canadian province and across EU jurisdictions. When tax structures shift or acquisition windows open, our network helps clients move fast with eyes wide open on regulatory and competitive realities.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →