Sweden replaced its old state monopoly with a licensing system in 2019. Today anyone can offer online casino to Swedish players, but only with a licence from Spelinspektionen, and promoting unlicensed gambling is treated as a crime. This guide explains how the system works, how to check a licence, how Spelpaus and deposit limits protect you, how winnings are taxed and where you can get support.
Is online gambling legal in Sweden?
Yes, at licensed operators. The Gambling Act (Spellagen, SFS 2018:1138) took effect on 1 January 2019 and opened the market to private companies. Online casino, sports betting and poker are legal when the operator holds a licence from Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority.
Offering gambling to Swedish residents without a licence is prohibited, and so is marketing it. Promoting unlicensed gambling is a criminal offence, and Swedish courts have handed down prison sentences in serious cases, including one involving an influencer who promoted unlicensed casinos. Spelinspektionen has also proposed tighter rules for affiliates, search advertising and social media, and the government is preparing further changes to strengthen the fight against the unlicensed market.
Who regulates online casinos in Sweden?
Spelinspektionen grants licences, supervises licence holders and takes action against unlicensed gambling. It can issue warnings, fines and licence revocations, and it can ask the courts to impose penalties on operators that target Sweden without a licence.
It also runs Spelpaus, the national self-exclusion register, and works with banks and payment providers to stop payments to unlicensed gambling companies.
How can you check whether an online casino is licensed in Sweden?
Every licensed site has to show that it holds a Swedish licence, and the public register lets you confirm it.
- Go to spelinspektionen.se and open the register of licence holders.
- Search for the company and check that the exact domain you plan to use is listed under its licence.
- Look for the Spelinspektionen symbol and a link to Spelpaus on the site. Licensed sites must show these clearly.
- Check that the site identifies you with BankID or similar verification and asks you to set deposit limits before you can play.
- If a site accepts Swedish players but shows only a foreign licence, it is not licensed in Sweden.
How does Spelpaus and player protection work?
Spelpaus.se is the national self-exclusion register. You can exclude yourself from all licensed gambling in Sweden for one, three or six months, or until further notice, which runs for at least twelve months. A running exclusion cannot be cancelled early. Licensed operators must check Spelpaus and are not allowed to market to excluded players.
Swedish licence holders also have to follow strict duty of care rules. You must set limits on deposits before playing, every licensed casino must show clear links to Spelpaus, a self-test and your limits, and operators must step in if your gambling looks risky. Bonuses are restricted too: a licensed operator may only offer you a bonus on the first occasion you play with them.
None of this applies at unlicensed sites. A Spelpaus registration has no effect there.
- Self-exclusion for one, three or six months, or until further notice
- Mandatory deposit limits set before you play
- A link to Spelpaus on every licensed gambling site
- No credit and no repeat bonuses at licensed operators
What are the risks of unlicensed online casinos?
A site without a Swedish licence is not supervised by Spelinspektionen. If it refuses a withdrawal or closes your account, you have no Swedish authority to turn to, and complaints to a regulator abroad rarely lead anywhere.
Unlicensed sites do not check Spelpaus, do not have to enforce deposit limits and often push repeated bonuses with demanding conditions. Winnings can also be taxable, as explained below. For anyone who has used Spelpaus to take a break, these sites are a direct risk.
Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in Sweden?
Winnings from operators licensed in Sweden are tax free for players, because the operator pays a gambling tax on its revenue. Winnings from gambling organised within the EU or EEA are also tax free.
Winnings from operators based outside the EU and EEA are taxable as income from capital, at 30 percent, and you have to declare them in your tax return. Skatteverket explains the rules in detail, and it is worth checking with them if you are unsure about a particular win.
Which payment methods do licensed Swedish casinos accept?
Most licensed casinos use Trustly or other direct bank payments combined with BankID, so you can deposit and verify your identity in one step. Swish, debit cards and bank transfer are also common. Everything runs in Swedish kronor through an account in your own name.
Licensed operators may not offer credit. If a site lets you deposit on credit or asks for cryptocurrency, it is a sign it is not following Swedish rules.
Where can you get help with gambling in Sweden?
Stödlinjen is the national helpline for gambling problems, run on behalf of the government. Call 020-81 91 00 or use the chat on stodlinjen.se. It is free, confidential and you do not have to give your name. Family members and friends can call too.
Your region's healthcare services and the municipal social services also offer treatment for gambling problems. If you need a break straight away, register on spelpaus.se.
Myths vs facts
- Myth: A Malta licence lets a casino legally target Swedish players.
- Fact: Only a licence from Spelinspektionen allows an operator to offer gambling to Swedish residents. A licence from another country does not.
- Myth: Promoting foreign casinos is a grey area in Sweden.
- Fact: Marketing and promoting unlicensed gambling is a criminal offence in Sweden, and courts have imposed prison sentences in serious cases.
- Myth: All casino winnings in Sweden are taxed.
- Fact: Winnings from Swedish licensed operators and from gambling organised within the EU or EEA are tax free. Winnings from operators outside the EU and EEA are taxed at 30 percent.
- Myth: You can end a Spelpaus exclusion early if you change your mind.
- Fact: A running exclusion cannot be cancelled before the period you chose has ended. That fixed break is the point of the system.
Before you claim
- The company and exact domain appear in Spelinspektionen's licence register
- The site shows the Spelinspektionen symbol and a link to Spelpaus
- You are asked to identify yourself and set deposit limits before playing
- Payments are in Swedish kronor and no credit is offered
- Only one welcome bonus is offered, in line with Swedish rules
- You know how to register on spelpaus.se
- You have Stödlinjen's number saved: 020-81 91 00