According to the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen), although unauthorized gambling platforms remain widely available, only a small segment of Swedish gamblers-estimated at under 5%-actively engages with them.
One major obstacle identified is the current legal framework, which limits enforcement to gambling operators that explicitly target Swedish users through marketing or the use of the Swedish language. This “directional criterion” has proven inadequate in addressing the broader issue.
To strengthen regulatory control, Spelinspektionen is advocating for a shift to a “participant perspective.” This would require all online gambling accessible to Swedish residents to be licensed within Sweden, regardless of whether the operator specifically targets the market.
Director General Camilla Rosenberg expressed support for the ongoing governmental review of the Gambling Act, expected to conclude by 17 September 2025. She emphasized the continued importance of enforcement efforts despite current legal limitations, stating that targeted actions still yield meaningful results.
The review, launched in February 2025 under pressure from the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), coincides with a report by the Swedish National Audit Office criticizing Spelinspektionen’s enforcement efforts as falling short of the goals set during the 2019 market re-regulation. In response, the Swedish Government has appointed an expert to help guide the review and explore possible legislative reforms.
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