Patrik Hofbauer led Svenska Spel, the gambling operator owned by the Swedish government, from December 2018 to January 2024. His tenure covered the 2019 shake-up that opened Sweden’s online market to licensed private brands. Since February 2024, he’s run Telia Company, a major Nordic and Baltic telecom group.
Who Is Patrik Hofbauer?
Patrik Hofbauer, born in 1968, is a Swedish business leader. In gambling circles, he’s best known for his five years as Svenska Spel’s chief executive. The group runs lotteries, sports betting, online casino games, and land-based casinos in Sweden.
In the mid-1990s, he played goalie for Djurgården in Sweden’s top hockey league. He studied strategy at INSEAD and marketing management at IHM Business School. Today, he runs Telia and holds a board seat at Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson.
Patrik Hofbauer’s Career Before Svenska Spel
Patrik Hofbauer built most of his career in telecom and media, not gambling. He first led NEC Scandinavia, then ran pay-TV provider Canal Digital and Clear Channel’s Swedish arm. Next came Telenor, where he led Telenor Broadcasting in Norway and then Telenor Sweden.
| Years | Role |
| 1999-2004 | CEO, NEC Scandinavia |
| 2005-2009 | CEO, Canal Digital Sweden |
| 2009-2010 | CEO, Clear Channel Sweden |
| 2011-2014 | CEO, Telenor Broadcasting (Norway) |
| 2014-2018 | CEO, Telenor Sweden |
| 2018-2024 | CEO, Svenska Spel |
| 2024-present | CEO, Telia Company |
Leading Svenska Spel Through Sweden’s 2019 Re-Regulation
Svenska Spel named Hofbauer CEO in June 2018, and he took charge that December. Weeks later, on January 1, 2019, Sweden opened its online gambling market. Until then, Svenska Spel and horse racing operator ATG held a monopoly on online play.
The new rules put Svenska Spel head to head with private brands like Betsson, run today by Jesper Svensson. So Patrik Hofbauer pushed more of the business online. In the first six months of 2023, online play made up 52% of total revenue.
He also widened the product mix. In 2020, Svenska Spel partnered with France’s PMU to add horse racing betting on French and global races. Then, in October 2022, it added Slotmill’s slot titles to its casino lobby.
Why Patrik Hofbauer Left Svenska Spel in 2024
Svenska Spel announced Hofbauer’s exit in October 2023. He left on January 31, 2024, and started at Telia the next day. Board chairman Erik Strand praised how he handled the market’s opening in 2019.
Strand then stepped in as interim CEO. Later in 2024, Anna Johnson, who previously ran Grant Thornton Sweden, took over the top job.
What Patrik Hofbauer Is Doing Now at Telia
At Telia, Patrik Hofbauer replaced Allison Kirkby, who left to run BT Group. One early priority was trimming the company back to its core connectivity business.
In February 2025, Telia agreed to sell its TV and Media unit to Schibsted Media for SEK 6.55 billion. That’s about $615 million, far below the nearly SEK 10 billion Telia paid for TV4 in 2019. Telia used the proceeds to cut debt.
Svenska Spel vs US Gambling: How the Models Compare
Patrik Hofbauer took over as Sweden opened its online market, months after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA. However, the two countries took very different paths. Sweden runs one national license system, while US gambling laws differ from state to state.
| Feature | Sweden | United States |
| Regulator | Spelinspektionen, one national body | Separate state gaming commissions |
| Market opened | January 1, 2019 | May 2018, after the PASPA ruling |
| Government-run brands | Svenska Spel competes with private operators | State lotteries; betting is mostly private |
| Online casinos | Nationwide for licensed operators | Legal in only a handful of states |
Most US states now allow legal sports betting, but few permit online casinos. Like Sweden, many states also run their own lotteries, and some sell lottery tickets online.
Svenska Spel’s own player protection record is mixed. In March 2024, the regulator fined its online arm SEK 100 million over duty-of-care failings in 2021. A court overturned the fine in June 2025, and the regulator has appealed.
If you bet in the US, our responsible gambling guide covers deposit limits and self-exclusion.
The Bottom Line
Patrik Hofbauer isn’t a gambling lifer, and that’s what makes his Svenska Spel run worth studying. He brought a telecom leader’s focus on digital growth to a monopoly facing open competition. Now he’s running a similar playbook at Telia, so watch its quarterly results for his next move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Patrik Hofbauer?
Patrik Hofbauer, a Swedish executive, has led Telia Company since February 2024. Before that, he spent just over five years running Svenska Spel, the government-owned Swedish gambling group. Between 2014 and 2018, he also headed Telenor Sweden after running its broadcasting arm in Norway.
When was Patrik Hofbauer CEO of Svenska Spel?
Hofbauer’s time at Svenska Spel ran from December 2018 until January 31, 2024. The board named him CEO in June 2018, but he first finished his role at Telenor Sweden. His tenure covered Sweden’s 2019 re-regulation and a major shift toward online gaming.
Why did Patrik Hofbauer leave Svenska Spel?
He left to take the top job at Telia Company, which returned him to telecom. Svenska Spel announced the move in October 2023, about three months before he left. Hofbauer said the choice was hard because of how much the company meant to him.
Who replaced Patrik Hofbauer at Svenska Spel?
Anna Johnson replaced him. She joined from Grant Thornton, where she’d been CEO in Sweden for seven years. Chairman Erik Strand ran Svenska Spel as interim CEO after Hofbauer left, until Johnson arrived. The company said she would start no later than June 2024.
Can US players use Svenska Spel?
No. Svenska Spel holds a Swedish license, and its customer terms require you to be a registered resident of Sweden. You also need to be at least 18. If you live in the US, choose real money online casinos for US players instead. Always check your state’s rules first.
