Kingdom of Sweden
Sweden re-regulated its gambling market on 1 January 2019 under the Gambling Act (2018:1138), replacing an offshore-dominated grey market with a licensed competitive sector overseen by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen). Operators serving Swedish players need a licence, split principally between commercial online gambling (casino, bingo and slots) and betting, and pay a gambling tax of 22% of gross gaming revenue. A state and non-profit monopoly is retained for lotteries and certain land-based products.
Commercial online gambling licence
Betting licence
The central policy question in Sweden remains channelisation: keeping players inside the licensed system as duty-of-care, bonus and advertising rules tighten. Watch enforcement against unlicensed operators, payment- and access-blocking measures, and any further adjustment to the gambling-tax rate.
Betsson has finalised its acquisition of Rhino Entertainment Group for €64.5 million, the company said, strengthening its position in the Canadian market as the Swedish operator continues to expand its North American footprint.
Evolution has walked away from its roughly $85 million takeover of Galaxy Gaming after two gaming regulatory approvals failed to arrive by the deadline, triggering a $5.23 million termination fee payable within two business days.
A Swedish court has torn up Spelinspektionen's SEK8 million fine against LeoVegas's Roar Vegas, ruling the regulator never proved a duty-of-care breach. Coming weeks after the Svenska Spel reversal, it signals that Sweden's responsible-gambling enforcement model may be unenforceable until the rules are rewritten.
ATG reports a dip in 2025 profits to SEK 2.099 billion as CEO Hans Lord Skarplöth departs; the operator warns that Sweden's increased gambling tax is now directly undermining the financing of the horse racing industry.
The Swedish Gambling Authority has confirmed that new supervision fees will impact all licensed operators from 1 March 2026. This financial update arrives just weeks before a strict ban on credit gambling takes effect, creating a challenging environment for the industry as it battles to retain players against a growing black market.
The conflict highlights the immense tension within the Nordic gambling sector as Finland prepares to dismantle its state monopoly. While Veikkaus maintains its actions are lawful, the investigation by the FCCA will determine whether an incumbent can legally fortify its position against future rivals before the market even opens.
A sharp decline in operating income has sparked a sell off in Betsson shares despite the group maintaining steady revenue through the end of 2025. Heavy tax burdens and a slowdown in the Nordic markets have forced the operator to lean on its casino vertical and emerging Latin American territories to sustain its global position.
Spelinspektionen
ICLG (International Comparative Legal Guides)