Online gambling in Sweden
Sweden is one a number of EU countries that the European Commission (“EC”) has been trying to push toward adopting an open market approach to online gambling for some time now.
As the EU executive, the EC is charged with enforcing the provisions of the European Communities Treaty with respect to services provision (including online gambling). The Treaty provides that EU Members that legally sanction local online gambling operators must also allow operators licensed in other EU Member countries to provide services to their residents. Any protectionist laws designed ban foreign competition simply to protect local monopoly operators are frowned upon by both the EC and European Court of Justice.
Until recently the Swedish government did follow a protectionist approach to online gambling, sanctioning the local Svenska Spel online betting operation, and seeking to restrict Swedish resident access to foreign competing sites. Measures proposed in mid-2009 included ISP and payment blocking initiatives designed to make it difficult for Swedes to play with operators other than Svenska Spel.
These proposed measures drew considerable opposition from the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the Swedish Football Association and Swedish online media groups during a consultation process. They would also likely have fallen foul of the EC.
A few years later government decided to move from a protectionist approach to a regulated open market.
[Update July 2018]
In 2018 the Swedish government finally resolved to introduce online gambling regulations that satisfy EC requirements. New Swedish online gambling regulations are expected to come into effect January 1st 2019. Before then, the Swedish Gaming Authority will need to review and issue licenses.
[Update November 2018]
On 30 November 2018, the first round of licenses under Sweden’s new online gambling regulations were issued.
Best live casino for Swedish players
All of the below live dealer casinos offer EURO or SEK banking options as well as Swedish language website and support capabilities.
They are also among the first operators to be awarded Swedish online gambling licenses by the regulator Lotteriinspektionen.
 Casinos |
 Player access |
 Banking |
 Toll free support |
 Local language |
 Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Read review | Visit |
No restrictions on Swedish player sign-ups | No deposit restrictions Maintain account in EURO or Swedish Krona (SEK) |
Yes | Full Swedish language website and support and Swedish speaking dealers | 6 different platforms to choose from. Studio and in-casino tables |
 Read review | Visit |
No restrictions | No deposit restrictions Maintain account in EURO or Swedish Krona (SEK) |
Yes | Yes | European based dealer room with Euro centric games dedicated live room |
 Read review | Visit |
No restrictions on Swedish player sign-ups | No deposit restrictions. Maintain account in EURO or Swedish Krona (SEK) |
Yes | Full Swedish language website and support capability | Asian based dealer studio including blackjack, baccarat, roulette and baccarat variations. |
 Read review | Visit |
No restrictions on sign -ups from Sweden | No deposit restrictions. Maintain account in EURO or Swedish Krona (SEK) |
Toll free phone numbers for Swedish players | Full Swedish language website and support capability | European based dealer room with Euro centric games. |
