Swiss lawmakers have asked the Federal Council to explain the delay in publishing a report on minors’ access to sports betting. The delay follows appeals by lottery operators Loterie Romande and Swisslos, which challenged the release of the report’s findings.
The Federal Council has been asked to explain both the reasons for and the timing of the decision, with several elected officials questioning why the legal action coincided with the Ice Hockey World Championship and the FIFA World Cup.
In 2025, the Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) conducted a series of test purchases to assess whether minors could easily place sports bets at physical retail outlets, either through staff or self-service betting terminals. The findings have yet to be published.
Loterie Romande and Swisslos launched legal proceedings challenging the publication of the report. As a result, the release of the findings has been delayed, prompting criticism from gambling harm prevention organisations.
On 11 June, Gespa concluded that publication of the report complies with Swiss law and confirmed that it still intends to release the final version. However, it noted that the decision is not yet final, as both lottery operators have the right to appeal to the Gambling Tribunal.
Loterie Romande has rejected suggestions that the legal proceedings were linked to the sporting calendar. The operator's Chief Executive, Jean-Luc Moner-Banet, said the company acknowledged Gespa's June decision but declined to comment further or discuss any potential next steps.
Moner-Banet stressed that the legal dispute concerns not the findings of the test purchases themselves but the legal framework governing Gespa's collection and intended publication of the information as part of its supervisory role.
He also emphasised that protecting minors is a fundamental objective of Switzerland's Federal Gambling Act and a core element of Loterie Romande's corporate social responsibility.
It remains to be seen whether the Federal Council will share lawmakers' concerns or accept Loterie Romande's explanation.
Gespa recently reported that turnover from lotteries and sports betting fell 2.4% year-on-year to CHF 3.87bn ($4.84bn) in 2025, while GGR declined 3.7% to CHF 1.2bn
