Online Casino Sweden

Sweden used to be a haven for online gamblers, who could visit practically any casino they wanted to bet online. Since 2019, things have changed. Sweden is still one of the most liberal countries when it comes to online casino gaming, but there are now a series of rules and regulations in place, as well as a new licensing authority. In this article, we will look at the laws which govern the online gambling sector in Sweden, as well as look at Swedish casinos (both licensed and offshore) in closer detail. Without further ado, let’s get started with online casinos in Sweden.

Online gambling laws in Sweden
Since 2019, Swedish online gambling activities fall under the jurisdiction of the Swedish Gambling Authority, known locally as Spelinspeketionen, or “Game Inspection”. Set up last year, the organisation has the responsibility to hand out Swedish gambling licenses to operators. Any operators holding one of these Swedish issued licenses can legally offer gambling games to players in the country.

Of course, not every major operator has received a gambling license. Some continue to operate and accept Swedish players (despite this being against the law), and others have shut-off access to their sites for Swedish users. While Sweden does not prohibit access to offshore casinos through its ISPs (internet service providers), they do threaten foreign operators with hefty fines for offering illegal services to Swedes. This, as mentioned, has had the desired effect for the most part.

Fortunately, the Swedish Gambling Authority has handed out an abundance of licenses, and many of the biggest and best operators are in receivership of one. Because of this, Swedes can afford to be picky about choosing where they play. They have a lot of online casino options open to them.

Online casinos in Sweden
To obtain a Swedish gambling license, operators must adhere to a strict set of rules, as well as fork out between 400000:- ($38,500) and 700000:- ($67,750) for said license. Swedish casinos must pay an 18% tax on revenue from commercial gaming, while non-profit gambling organisations can be run tax-free. Players can only claim one welcome offer per casino and must be aged 18 or over. On top of that, players must have the option of pausing their activity at a casino, there must be a three-second delay between slot spins, and withdrawals are only permitted with the same payment service a player used to deposit.

Provided a Swedish online casino meets these conditions, they could (in theory) obtain a gambling license from Spelinspektionen.

Offshore casinos for Swedish players
As mentioned, not every online casino is prepared to meet these terms, and Sweden does try to prosecute those operators who offer their services to Swedes illegally. There are no punishments for Swedes who play at these casinos, and Sweden does not blacklist such sites. However, faced with a hefty fine, many offshore operators have blocked access to their domains for Swedes, or refuse to accept new players from the Scandinavian country.

It is worth pointing out that not all offshore operators have done this. Some are still very much open to players in Sweden. Swedes face no punishment for joining these sites, so many continue to do so. Add these sites to those which are licensed to offer their services to players in Sweden legally, and Swedes have a plethora of online casinos to choose from.

Swedish casino safety, security and blacklisted casinos
We’ve touched on that fact that Sweden doesn’t blacklist casinos, already, but there is more to be said about the security and safety procedures at Swedish casinos. Swedes can play online safe in the knowledge that they can pause their activity at any time, and the Swedish Gambling Authority has demanded that slot providers ensure that three seconds pass between each spin.

All Swedish licensed casinos adhere to rules and requirements of respectable gaming programs. Most are affiliated with them, so if you were to stop playing and self-exclude yourself from one site, you would be excluded automatically from all other casinos within the same program. At the same time, Swedish casinos generally tend to ensure that players can set deposit limits, have warnings displayed when they have been gambling for a certain amount of time, and can access promotions and bonuses which feature fair terms and conditions.

Many top Swedish casinos no longer require players to “sign-up” for an account either, with their BankID being used to process deposits and withdrawals via Trustly. This can result in instant transaction times, even for withdrawals, as no wagering requirements are in place.

Games at Swedish online casinos
Swedish online casinos feature all the same games you can find anywhere else. Expect slots, table games, live dealer titles, video poker, instant win games and much more besides. Many top Swedish casinos are also linked to sportsbooks, so having a punt on your favourite sports matches is also likely.

Sweden is home to some of the internet’s most famous and top-tier software developers – many of them, in fact. Net Entertainment, Yggdrasil Gaming, and Play ‘n Go, Playson, Elk Studios and others all have their origins and headquarters in the country. Many of these Scandinavian software providers work together. It is fair to say that in most of the biggest Swedish casinos, you will be able to find games from not one, but most of these developers, as well as others.

Swedish online casino bonuses
As mentioned, one of the rules that casino operators in Sweden must follow to obtain a license is regarding bonuses. Casinos can only offer limited bonuses and promotions to Swedish players. In most cases, these sites will provide a welcome bonus and nothing else besides. Each license allows a casino to offer one welcome bonus offer.

A few other casinos (particularly major ones) will run a few basic loyalty bonuses, but all come with low playthrough rates to no wagering requirements at all. Bonuses at Swedish casinos also tend to be worth far less than their other European counterparts, and this is down to the fact that the offers come with such minimal conditions on the player.