Sweden's Most Expensive Breakfast at 20,000 SEK

Swedish poker players are lining up bids to win a ‘breakfast date’ with Sweden’s Minister of Social Security, Ardalan Shekarabi, with the highest offer currently sitting at 20,000 SEK (Nearly €2000).

A decent sum of money, yet it doesn’t seem like they will be getting their money’s worth in food. A breakfast of sausages, toast, and coffee in the surrounds of nature is hardly a feast worthy of this sort of outlay! Yet, it seems that the sum may still increase, as players are desperate to sit with the Minister.

Upon further investigation, it seems that the value of the meeting lies in its agenda rather than cuisine up for grabs or the quality of the company.

 The Hot Topic

The Swedish radio/television show, Musikhjälpen, goes on a quest each year to appeal for money to help certain causes. The 20,000 SEK is the highest bid among the auctions hosted by the show so far, which is supporting the pleas of pro gamblers in the current COVID climate.

According to Simon Lindell, a gaming expert in the industry, the poker professionals are looking for time with the Minister, after restrictive regulations were put in place in June on all gamblers in Sweden.

To curb the enhanced risk for potential problem gambling when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, the Swedish government imposed some temporary rules to the gaming industry to keep the spending down. The perceived risk was that the fallout from the pandemic would result in an increased risk of problem gambling due to a growing level of unemployment and mental illness.

The industry was met with limitations to the amount of money that players could spend and the size of the casino bonuses they could claim. These laws have not yet been amended, leaving punters with a maximum possible deposit amount of 5,000 SEK (approximately €490) per week and a bonus limit of no greater than 100 SEK (approximately €10), in total.

 Professional Poker Problems

The resultant fallout over the restrictions has left professional poker players with a serious dent in their ability to earn a living. Lindell feels that there should be a change, even if it is just for Poker players, and has got in on the bids himself to try and make a difference. He commented, saying:

"Comparing casino gaming and poker is completely wrong. Poker is a game of skill. At the casino, you can put a monkey in place to sit and click a button. There are many poker players who (continue to) lose large parts of their professional lives because of this regulation."

There seems to be a thought that a single sitting with an influential political figure could turn the situation around, which may seem a little too hopeful unless the big auction’s bounty is aimed at softening his resolve.

In many other areas of the world, such laws would simply cause players to seek out entertainment in other international markets. While poker players are left with the option, as it is legal to do so in Sweden, this would present them with a different cost conundrum.

Following Swedish legislation, taxes are payable on all winnings from casinos that are unlicensed. Currently, these poker pros don’t pay towards the state’s revenues, which may well be a part of the reason the government does not seem too concerned about altering the regulations right now.

A paying public would most certainly gain a louder voice in times like this.