Sweden Gambling Licence (Spelinspektionen): Duty of Care in a Mature Nordic Market

Sweden re-regulated its gambling market in January 2019, replacing a state monopoly with a licensing system open to private operators. The market is mature, digital and high-value, and the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) supervises it with a strong emphasis on duty of care. Here is what a Swedish licence requires.

Licence types

The Gambling Act provides for several licence categories, of which commercial online gambling (casino, bingo, poker) and betting are the ones relevant to most private operators. A single company can hold both. Applicants must be established in the EU or EEA or appoint a Swedish representative, and the application is examined for financial stability, ownership transparency and the suitability of key persons.

Spelpaus and player protection

Every licensee must connect to Spelpaus, the national self-exclusion register, and refuse service to anyone registered on it. Players must set deposit limits before they can play, and operators must offer time limits, display a panic-button self-exclusion option and monitor play for signs of harm. Sweden’s duty-of-care rule is broad and has been the basis for a significant number of enforcement decisions, particularly around high-spending customers.

Bonus restrictions

Sweden limits welcome offers to a single bonus at the start of the customer relationship. Ongoing bonuses, VIP schemes and reload offers of the kind common in other markets are not permitted for commercial online gambling. This shapes the marketing model considerably and is one of the first things operators from more liberal jurisdictions need to redesign.

Tax and fees

Gambling tax is levied on GGR at a flat rate that was raised to 22% in 2024. Application fees depend on the licence categories sought, and annual supervision fees apply. Corporate income tax is charged at Sweden’s standard rate.

Enforcement and market realities

Spelinspektionen actively issues warnings, penalty fees and licence revocations, and the Swedish courts have upheld a mature body of case law on duty of care and bonus rules. Unlicensed operators targeting Swedish players face payment blocking and, following recent amendments, criminal liability for promotion. For operators with a strong compliance culture, Sweden is a rewarding market; for those without one, it is a costly place to learn.

Our compliance team can help you build the duty-of-care and bonus framework needed for a Swedish licence application.