The Swedish Government has announced that a state investigator will review the country’s Gambling Act to see how it can be improved.
The Government’s Ministry of Finance stated that the review will analyse how the act can be expanded to stop unlicensed operators in the market. This could include “changing the so-called directional criterion that determines whether an online game requires a license in Sweden”.
Marcus Isgren, Chair and Head of the Swedish Board of Consumer Complaints, has been appointed as the investigator. The deadline for their report is 17 September 2025.
“We will stop rogue gambling companies that exploit vulnerable consumers,” stated Minister of Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman.
“We will do this by amending the Gambling Act so that it becomes more appropriate. This is one of the single most important measures for a safer and healthier gambling market.”
In response, Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, has stated that it views the Government’s announcement “very positively”.
Camilla Rosenberg, Director General of the Swedish Gambling Authority, noted: “We have previously drawn the government’s attention to the need for the Gambling Act’s scope of application regarding online gambling to be changed.
“This is clear from our report on 30 April 2024 of the government’s assignment to review how cooperation with the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority can be strengthened to combat illegal gambling.
“The need to investigate the issue of the Gambling Act’s scope of application is something that the Swedish National Audit Office and the Swedish State Treasury have also drawn attention to in their reports.”
Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling has also welcomed the Government’s announcement. Earlier this month, the BOS called for action over unlicensed gambling in Sweden.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS Secretary General, stated: “We have advocated an amendment to the Gambling Act in this regard ever since the reregulation of the Swedish gambling market in 2019. It became apparent fairly immediately after the reregulation that the gambling license market was leaking like a sieve.
“This was partly because many unlicensed gambling companies were able to continue to accept Swedish gambling customers, as long as they avoided the Swedish language and the use of Swedish currency. The day before yesterday, we reminded the Government of this in a letter, and now we are being listened to. It is very welcome.”
