New Spelinspektionen Casinos

In Q3 of 2019, the Swedish Gambling Authority reported online gaming and betting revenues of £268.6m. Despite much more stringent regulations, gambling continues to be a major contributor to the Swedish economy and the country leads the way in online gambling amongst its Scandanavian counterparts.

Sweden is one of the countries with the strictest gambling laws in Europe and is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to casino gaming regulations. Any casinos licensed by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) have to adhere to some pretty strict rules which received a major update in 2019.

Latest Casinos with a Swedish Gaming Licence 2024

We have created a complete overview of every new Swedish licenced casino. The latest casino is always placed on top, meaning that you will never miss out on a new Swedish casino. Simply scroll down to the last time you visited to catch up. Note: We have a Swedish language version of our website. Certain Sweden-only casinos will only be displayed there.

Key features of the Swedish Gaming Licence

Here are some of the key features to be aware of when playing at any casino licenced by the Swedish Gambling Authority:

  • Players are only allowed to claim 1 welcome bonus per licensed casino with no follow-up bonuses permitted for registered customers.
  • Players need to be age 18 years or older to play at online casinos and age 21 years or older to enter and play at land-based casinos.
  • Players in Sweden can now pause their accounts on all casino sites if they request to do so to help protect them from problem gambling issues.
  • Any slots at casinos with a Swedish Gaming Licence have a 3-second delay between spins to slow the pace of play and give players time to think about their next move.
  • Withdrawals made by online casino players can only be made using the same payment service as they used to make their deposit.

Businesses now pay a flat rate of tax at 18% for providing commercial gaming to customers both on and offline. However, there is a 0% tax rate for any non-profit gambling activities.

Responsibility of the Governing Body

The Swedish Gambling Authority’s key responsibility is to make sure that the Swedish gaming and gambling market is reliable, legal, and safe for both players and operators. Spelinspektionen issues any permits required for casinos and lotteries in Sweden and has control over all gambling activities in Sweden.

The Swedish Gambling Authority informs the government of the developments in the Swedish and foreign gaming markets. They also have an obligation to provide training and information regarding all gambling and lottery legislation in Sweden.

There are three departments which make up the Swedish Gambling Authority. Between them, they are responsible for licensing and compliance in the following areas:

  • Casino games, restaurant casinos and poker
  • Gaming machines and amusement games
  • Betting on sports games, horses and dogs
  • Svenska Spel’s lotteries and numbers games
  • National lotteries
  • Bingo
  • Illegal gambling

How to Know if You are Playing at a Swedish Gaming Licensed Casino

Any new online casino which has been granted a licence by the Swedish Gambling Authority will clearly display this in the footer area of their site. The Spelinspektionen logo should also be visible alongside the details of the licence including the current expiry date.

If players are unsure of the legitimacy of an online casino that they wish to play at they can contact Spelinspektionen directly to check if the casino holds a valid Swedish licence. Any legitimate casinos should be able to quickly provide details of the licence it holds and when it expires.

Benefits of using the Swedish Gaming Licence

The main benefit of the strict Swedish gambling regulations is the high level of protection that it offers both players and businesses in the country. By creating a system where players can enjoy casinos which are licensed locally there is less risk of players using casinos which are under less stringent international licences.

Under the 2019 licence changes, any winnings Swedish players gain from playing at officially licensed casinos are tax-free. This is a major incentive to stick to only officially licensed sites.

Tighter regulations around financing casino accounts mean that Swedish players will now find it much harder to use loans or credit cards to fund their play. This helps protect players from going into debt through their gambling.

The licence also states that casinos are required to closely monitor their customers’ playing behaviour to help spot signs of harmful gaming habits.

Risks of Using the Swedish Gaming Licence

Players can only claim one casino bonus per online casino registration with no exceptions. This puts a stop to multiple bonuses being offered and players will miss out on any cash boosts when making additional deposits at licensed casinos.

Also, the 3-second delay between spins on all slot games can now make it frustrating for some players who previously enjoyed the quick spin feature of many games.

Perhaps the biggest risk to players and casinos is the introduction of more stringent regulations coming into force in the future. Although nothing further is currently planned, the introduction of the 2019 changes shows that the Swedish government is not afraid to make bold moves when it wants to.

Recent Legislative Changes

The most recent and biggest change to gambling legislation in Sweden came in January 2019 which meant that for the first time Sweden created a regulated casino market.

Before the change, the government-owned Svenska Spel (Swedish Gaming) had a complete monopoly over the Swedish gaming market. It was the only organisation which was permitted to run casinos and sports betting in the country.

These changes paved the way for online casinos to apply for a Swedish Gambling Licence if they complied with the rules outlined to protect players. The move to a regulated market and licence also helps to ensure that tax revenues are kept within Sweden and not lost via foreign casino licences such as Malta.

Complaints Against the Swedish Gambling Licence

Spelinspektionen has faced criticism as many operators struggled with a lack of clarity regarding the 2019 Swedish gambling regulation as the licences came into effect. In Q3 of 2019, there were a host of penalties and warnings issued to operators for allowing underage betting. This even prompted Gaming Innovation Group to temporarily suspend all sports betting via its popular sportsbook brands Rizk and Guts.

Anyone wanting to make a complaint can contact the Swedish Gambling Authority directly at their headquarters based in Strängnäs by phone, email or in writing.

Common Questions about the Swedish Gambling Licence

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about casinos licensed by the Swedish Gambling Authority.

1. What types of games are available at casinos licensed in Sweden?

Swedish players can enjoy all the same casino games that they would when playing under other European licences. Slot games, table games, live casino, sports betting, bingo and more are on offer from casinos that carry the Swedish gaming licence.

2. Can players claim more than one sign up bonus?

The Swedish gambling licence states that players are only permitted one sign up bonus per casino. Therefore, they cannot claim a series of welcome offers beyond their initial deposit. There’s nothing to stop them from signing up at various casinos to claim a multitude of welcome bonus offers.

3. Can players deposit and withdraw funds using different payment methods?

Any casinos licensed under the 2019 Swedish gambling law will insist that players use the same method to make withdrawals which they used to make their deposit. This can be a great benefit to players who don’t want to be using multiple payment methods at online casinos.

4. How safe is it to play at Swedish licensed casinos?

Sweden is one of the biggest markets for online casinos in Europe. The country’s government has moved to ensure that any citizens wishing to play online casino games will be protected under a local licence. It is one of the most stringent licences around right now and will no doubt be refined and improved going forward.

5. What is the legal age for gambling at a Swedish casino?

The current legal age to gamble both online and offline in Sweden is 18 and above. Several operators were landed with fines in 2019 for allowing underage betting which was in breach of the new licence restrictions.

6. Can players self-exclude from Swedish licensed casinos?

Spelinspektionen have made it easy to self-exclude from many licensed online gambling sites and land-based casinos in one step. By using the Spelpaus.se system casino players in the country are added to a list which automatically blocks them from playing at licensed casinos. This is aimed at helping residents with gambling issues to stop playing when it’s becoming a problem.

7. How much does a Swedish gambling licence cost?

The cost of a Swedish online gambling licence is 400 000 SEK (£32,600) and the price for a betting licence is also 400 000 SEK. If applied for at the same time the price is reduced to 700 000 SEK (£57,600). The annual renewal cost is 300 000 SEK (£24,500).

8. Can non-residents play at Swedish licensed online casinos?

The Spelinspektionen issued licence is intended to cover players within Sweden only. Many of the casino and sports betting sites covered by the licence are available in other jurisdictions under different licences. Such as those issued by the Maltese Gaming Authority or the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
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G. H. Moretto is the Editor at New Casinos.com and Nyecasino.org, also an expert in advertising and casino content with a passion for blackjack tables. He has managed research, content writing, translations and holds a degree in Social Communication with honours in Advertising, bringing to the table a decade of experience in the advertising and online gambling industries combined. Moretto was also directly involved in a Child Gambling project in the UK, which was discussed with several MPs to bring forward legislation changes to protect children. He has reviewed thousands of online casinos, slots and casino games and he definitely knows his way around bonuses, payment methods and trends. This casino enthusiast is an Editor at NewCasinos.com on a mission to reveal all the secrets of the industry with in-depth and unbiased reviews. Moretto aims to educate new and seasoned players about the risks and rewards of all new casinos, their bonuses and features to help players make better-informed decisions.

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