Sweden has moved a step closer towards liberalising its state monopoly on gambling with the publication of two reports.

A commission charged with investigating the monopoly has come out in favour of opening up the Swedish gambling sector and has proposed that new legislation be adopted in the country as soon as January 2019.

The government has been preparing to do away with its state monopoly for some time now. In 2015, Svenska Spel, the existing gambling monopoly, had its licence extended for one more year than normal so that it expired at the end of 2018 - to coincide with new legislation.

The plans to reform led to Svenska Spel’s chairperson Anitra Steen resigning in early 2016.