Swedish Casinos Online

Following the implementation of the new gambling regime in Sweden on January 1, 2019, via the Swedish Gambling Act (SFS 2018:1138), the local industry was subjected to reregulation, resulting in more operators obtaining licenses to operate legally in the country.

• History and Legislation
• The Swedish Gambling Authority
• The Future of Online Gambling

Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, is the state-owned regulator of the industry in the Nordic country, empowered to monitor the safety and legality of the market. It strives to provide local players with the tools and mechanisms necessary for transparent gaming by ensuring a well-balanced market while simultaneously bringing to a minimum the potential harmful impact of gambling. The adjustments to the gambling regime are grounded on a licensing system, requiring all gambling companies to hold a license from the state regulator.

One of the most substantial effects of the reregulation has been the increase in the level of channeling, or the percentage of gambling taking place on licensed and regulated platforms, from under 50% before 2019 to an estimated 87% in 2021.

The present publication aims to provide players with useful information on the top-rated casino operators accepting players from the Scandinavian country. Keep on reading to find out more about the country’s gambling regulations, several trustworthy payment processors, as well as the most popular gaming genres that spark the interest of Swedish players.

History and Legal Landscape of Online Gambling in Sweden

Presently, both interactive and land-based gambling activities are authorized in Sweden, with residents of the country being able to bet on a variety of products, including bingo, arcades, scratchcards, lotteries, and poker, among others. Under its section dedicated to licensed iGaming and sports betting operators, Spelinspektionen lists more than 100 providers of gambling services. However, the state of the gambling industry was quite different before the reregulation of the Swedish gambling market took place in 2019.

Before the Swedish Gambling Act came into force on January 1, 2019, the market was under a state monopoly. From the beginning of 2019, Sweden abandoned the gambling monopoly model and switched to a licensing system.

Until then, all gambling-related activities in the country were monopolized and were under the control of the Swedish National Lottery, the so-called Svenska Spel, which was fully owned and backed by the state itself. While the legislative framework created the impression Sweden was home to a regulated and open gambling market, in principle, Svenska Spel was practically the only company that had been granted a license to offer gambling services to residents of the country.

There are two important pieces of legislation related to online gambling in Sweden, the first one being the 1994 Lotteries Act. It covers an extensive range of gambling products, including slot machines, bingo, lotteries, dice games, and traditional table games, such as roulette and poker. This piece of legislation provides the Swedish Gambling Authority with the power to grant licenses to land-based and online gambling operators.

This regulatory body is also responsible for ensuring the aforementioned games are run fairly and in compliance with its guidelines. Gambling-related games can be offered only after being approved by state-owned bodies like Svenska Spel or the Swedish Gambling Authority. According to the provisions of the Lotteries Act, the advertisement of lotteries and casino games offered by foreign gambling operators is illegal.

Another important piece of legislation is the Casinos Act, which came into force in 1999 and aimed at introducing additional regulations concerning dice and card games. However, these regulations applied predominantly to brick-and-mortar gambling establishments. The Casinos Act outlined gambling age limits and prohibited land-based gambling venues from issuing credit to their customers.

The year 2002 saw the introduction of an amendment to the 1994 Lotteries Act. The purpose was to update the legislation so that it covered online gambling as well. It was precisely this amendment that allowed Svenska Spel to offer Swedish players online casino games and rendered it the only licensed interactive gambling provider on the territory of the country. In 2006, Svenska Spel was granted another license allowing it to become the sole provider of online poker services in the country.

The Swedish government justified the monopolization of the online gambling sector in the country with the argument that it works to the advantage of players as it protects them against unreliable gambling platforms on the web. In addition, lawmakers argued that the monopolization would lead to a reduction of the social harms, associated with pathological gambling.

In the summer of 2010, the European Court of Justice sided with Sweden, backing its ban on the advertisement of online gambling. The ruling came after two of Sweden’s largest newspapers protested against the fines they had received for publishing advertisements on their sports pages, which openly promoted the services of online gambling operators based in other countries.

Controlling the monopolized gambling sector in the country came with certain disadvantages for Svenska Spel. The operator was subjected to various burdensome regulations which made it next to impossible for Svenska Spel to become a serious competitor for foreign gambling providers. For example, the company was allowed to offer online poker but its license restricted the service only to Swedish players. Needless to say, this affected the accumulation of the prize pools negatively since the number of poker players who contributed with buy-ins was smaller. Because of this, many Swedish players preferred to use the services of foreign operators that offer more extensive gaming libraries, larger pools, and better odds for sports betting markets.

Such online gambling operators held licenses from other respected and stringent jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Malta, and Gibraltar. Since these foreign operators are based in countries where online gambling is completely legal, they are under no obligation to comply with the legislation of other countries. Especially, if the said legislation is in stark violation of the trade agreements set forth by the European Union as is the case with Sweden.

Indeed, there were plenty of options for Swedes who wished to bet by registering their accounts at foreign gambling websites. An impressive number of licensed, secure, and fair gambling operators, including giants like William Hill, bet365, and 888casino, catered to the needs of Swedes by offering them transactions in their native currency, SEK, as well as several flexible payment methods suitable for residents of the country. What further added to the convenience of non-English speaking Swedes was the ability to load some of the biggest gambling websites in their native language.

More importantly, Swedish players were not persecuted by law if they opted to join foreign-based online gambling websites. Similarly to many other countries across the world, Sweden’s stringent laws applied predominantly to individuals and privately owned businesses, offering gambling-related activities, so there were no repercussions for ordinary players.

Nowadays, the official website of the Swedish gambling regulator provides updated information on the list of licensed gambling operators in the country, which players can find at https://www.spelinspektionen.se/sok-licens/. It includes both local businesses and international operators. Land-based gambling, however, is restricted to four locations across the country, run by the company Casino Cosmopol.

Most Popular Swedish Casinos

The team at Casino Games Pro has conducted extensive research on online casinos catering to Swedish players and has compiled a list of premier operators offering interactive casino games.

We have carefully investigated some key aspects of their business operations, including the variety of their gaming catalogs, supported payment and withdrawal methods, and customer support service. We provide useful information on their promotional offers, minimum deposit requirements, and game diversity, thus offering players a shortcut to finding their favorite interactive source of entertainment.

FAQ

Are Swedish players able to take advantage of gambling bonus offers?

As of January 1, 2019, when the Swedish gambling market was subjected to reregulation, players from the country are entitled to a single welcome bonus. Before these adjustments to the gambling laws took place, online casino operators were able to offer multiple bonus offers to players at any time.

What is the legal gambling age in Sweden?

The minimum gambling age to participate in online gambling in Sweden is 18 years. As for gambling at land-based establishments, which are limited to four locations across the country and run by a company called Casino Cosmopol, the legal gambling age is set to 20 years.

Are Swedish players able to set gambling limits and self-exclude themselves from gambling?

Under the Swedish Gambling Act, social responsibility measures for responsible gambling are to be mandatorily provided to Swedish players. They must have the available resources and tools to impose self-limits and self-exclude from gambling. The suspension registry, Spelpaus.se is under the control of the Swedish Gambling Authority, where players can self-exclude themselves from gambling.

What are the KYC procedures required by licensed operators in Sweden?

The KYC procedures, short for Know Your Customer, are mandatory for every locally authorized gambling operator in Sweden. They aim to impede money laundering, ensure players are of the legal gambling age, as well as verify their residence. The standard KYC procedures are passed just once and are typically completed within 24 to 72 hours. Customers are required to provide a copy of their ID, utility bill, or any other proof of address.

Deposit Methods

Below, we will provide information on several popular payment methods suitable for Swedish players. They must keep in mind that some operators require them to use the same payment method when they top up their casino account and when they cash out their winnings. We will briefly cover several processors that seem to fully satisfy the requirements of Swedish players.

Trustly

Launched in 2008, Trustly is one of the first and most popular processors Swedish players use to manage their transactions at online casinos. The company boasts 12,000 connected banks, $42 Billion worth of annual payments processed, and coverage in more than 33 markets across the globe. Besides being widely used by iGaming enthusiasts, the method is available at many interactive casinos.

The fintech company enables its customers to conduct quick, hassle-free, and safe payments to online merchants, directly from their online banking. Instead of dealing with cards and checks, they enjoy a simple payment experience, without revealing their bank credentials. What is more, the method is exceptionally budget-friendly, as it does not charge fees on transactions.

To use Trustly for their gambling-related transactions, customers do not need to create an account. Once they navigate to the casino cashier section, they must select ‘Online Banking’, choose their bank, sign in to their account, and follow the prompts to conduct the payment.

Nordea

Established in 2000 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Nordea is yet another company catering to the needs of Swedish players. Besides Swedes, the majority of customers it serves reside in Denmark, Finland, and Norway. It facilitates direct bank transfers over the Internet and has gained large popularity among the iGaming community.

The company’s Internet banking solution, Netbank, allows players to top up their casino accounts in a hassle-free and completely secure manner. As Nordea is supported by multiple interactive casinos, players will have no trouble picking a prominent operator to play at. Withdrawals, however, are not supported, and customers must pick an alternative banking method for their cashouts from online casinos.

The payment processor features an advanced level of security, as it utilizes the so-called Access Codes. These are one-off codes with a User ID and unique password. Mobile casino players will be glad to know the payment service offers downloadable apps for iOS and Android devices.

Payz

Originally established as ecoPayz in 2000, and recently rebranded to Payz, the next payment solution on our list supports both deposits and withdrawals to online casinos. Payz is one of the most popular digital wallets, serving customers from multiple jurisdictions, including Sweden.

Besides its widely recognized e-wallet service, the company offers other payment products, including the Payz Plus debit card, featuring additional benefits such as up to 1% cashback. There is also an option for ordering a virtual Payz Plus card in different currencies. To meet the needs of customers who prefer mobile transactions, the company has developed native apps for devices running on iOS and Android.

Payz account holders can choose between several account levels, with the options being Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and VIP. In terms of security, the Payz brand does not disclose its customers’s details or payment methods to third parties and keeps its funds separate from its customers’ finances.

PaySafeCard

The last payment method on our list is PaySafeCard. It is preferred by a large number of Swedish players due to the high security of transactions that do not require disclosure of personal or financial information. Available in different denominations, the vouchers have a 16-digit PIN code that must be entered to accomplish online transactions.

The method is also favored due to the option to review transactions, enabling online casino players to exercise better control over their gambling-related expenditures. Unfortunately, due to their nature, the vouchers cannot be used to withdraw winnings from online casinos and players must pick an alternative banking method to cash out their accumulated winnings.

Registering a myPaysafe account is yet another option. It can be accomplished by visiting the official website of the company. Users must provide their email address and create a strong password. The registration also requires email confirmation and personal details, including name, date of birth, address, and mobile number. Holders of myPaysafe accounts can use them to withdraw funds from online casinos.

Popular Games and Live Dealers

Online casinos catering to players from Sweden provide them with the opportunity to enjoy various gaming genres, including slots, table games, poker, and live dealer games from the comfort of their homes. Based on their gaming preferences and budget, casino aficionados can quickly find the games that meet their requirements by navigating to the lobby of their selected iGaming provider. Games created by some of the world’s leading software providers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, Play’n GO, and Evolution Gaming are to be found at casinos accepting players from Sweden.

Undoubtedly, classic and video slots take up the largest portion of online casinos’ lobbies, as this gaming genre provides an array of themes, features, and bonus rounds to boost players’ gaming experience. Besides, they offer a straightforward and exciting gaming experience, with the potential to pocket massive rewards. With RNGs used to ensure the games’ fairness and randomness, players stand equal chances to land an exhilarating win in every single spin of the reels. There is an array of slots garnering the attention of Swedish reel spinners, with some of the premier examples including Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, and Gonzos Quest Megaways.

Table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat also generate interest from players based in Sweden.

Those who love the thrill of gambling at brick-and-mortar casinos should navigate to the live dealer section of their selected Swedish online casinos. With an ever-growing range of live casino games to choose from, including blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat, players will be served by professional and friendly dealers. They will find a wide range of tables for their favorite live casino games, with varying limits, suitable for recreational players and high rollers. Some of the most prominent creators of live casino content on the Swedish market include Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, and Authentic gaming, to name a few.