Online Casinos in Sweden

5 things you should know about online casinos in Sweden!

After years of criticism and numerous attempts by competitors, in the summer of 2018, the Swedish government finally proposed a new law that challenges the monopoly position of Svenska Spel, as well as gives way to an entirely new regulatory framework which will make room for private competitors in the market. The bill has been called “A re-regulated gambling” and is spearheaded by the Minister for Public Administration Ardalan Shekarabi. Its main provisions include:

• Strict requirements for moderation in marketing gambling will apply.
• Gamblers must be able to bar themselves from all gambling, and bonuses will not be permitted at any time other than the first gambling occasion.
• The possibility of blocking payment transactions between gamblers and unlicensed gambling operators will be introduced to ensure unlicensed operators are shut out of the market.
• The Swedish Gambling Authority will also be able to order internet service providers to set up warning messages for websites offering unlicensed gambling.
• Promoting gambling without a licence, for example through advertising, will be criminalised. Licensed operators must have a comprehensive duty to protect gamblers from excessive gambling.

The bill is expected to become law on the first of January 2019. Since the bill has been proposed there have been 55 new applicants for a license by the Swedish Gambling Authority in order to provide online gambling services to clients in Sweden. Even though the situation for the Swedish gambler has been dire the last twenty years in comparison to the UK, this will change with the likelihood of up to 55 new licensed gambling websites opening up for business in Sweden at the start of 2019.

Until then, we advise players in Sweden to visit and bet only on the websites of the company Svenska Spel, or European websites that are licensed by the relevant authorities in their countries – for UK online casinos it is the UK Gambling Commission and for Malta it is the Malta Gaming Authority. Always search for a license on the casinos website before deciding to put in money for betting!

Are online casinos legal in Sweden?

When the Swedish Gambling Act was introduced, it changed the Swedish online gambling sector. According to the act, any bookmarker operating in Sweden must be licensed and regulated by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spel Inspektionen). The Swedish Gambling Authority provides all Swedish online gambling players with legal gambling solutions.

Online casinos that provide online gambling services to Swedish players without proper licensing from the Swedish Gambling Authority will be operating illegally. We only included a list of online casinos with Spel Inspektionen online gambling licenses in our list of the best Swedish online casinos. When gambling online in Sweden, it’s essential to ensure the online casino has a proper Swedish online gambling license.

#1 CasiGO

CasiGO online casino has more than 1,300 slot games from 80 igaming developers. All the online casino games offered at the platform have exceptional graphics and rewarding bonuses and features. Players can pick their preferred casino games based on the RTP, presence of jackpots, and the igaming developer. The games are suitable for both expected and novice punters. Top online casino games at the platform include online slots, table games, and card games. The live dealer section also has more game selection, ranging from live dealer blackjack variations to live roulette variations.

Both new and existing players have access to various bonuses and promotions. The casino bonuses and promotions are meant to increase the bankroll of players. The welcoming bonus and the VIP program are some of the critical promotions offered by the operator. The casino has mobile compatibility hence can be easily accessed from iOS, android and windows devices. The mobile version offers all the features present in the desktop version.

Payment methods are diverse at the CasiGO online casino. Players have popular deposit and withdrawal options: Visa, MasterCard, Sofort, Skrill and Trustly. Players are guaranteed fair play when playing games at the CasiGO online casino. The bookmarker uses the random generator number system in all the games. High-level security encryptions are used to ensure players have a safe and secure online gambling experience at all times. The customer support is available via email ([email protected]) and live chat. Punters can use the FAQ to get more information on using the various gambling services at the casino.

#3 AmOk Casino

AmOK Casino is a new online gambling platform for punters. The casino has a gaming catalogue of more than 3000 online games, with new slots added daily. The lucrative bonuses and promotions being run by the casino have no wagering requirements. AmOK Casino has partnered with over 80 igaming developers, who are the best in the igaming industry. Top igaming developers supplying online games to AmOK online casino include Big Time Gaming, NetEnt, Net Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Play’n GO, Booming Games, Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play.

The casino was founded in 2021 and is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. The AmOK casino live dealer platform has over 200 live dealer games from top developers like Evolution Gaming. Popular live dealer games range from baccarat, roulette to blackjack variations. The online casino has random number generated (RNG) variations of the various casino games.

Players enjoy instant deposits when using the various payment methods present at AmOK Casino. Some payment providers aren’t allowed in some countries. The cashiers at the customer support are available to offer guidance on the various payment methods. Withdrawals have different processing times depending on the selected banking method. The casino has mobile compatibility; hence users can access it from any mobile device. The customer support is available via live chat and email address.

The casino has plenty of lucrative bonuses and promotions for both new and existing players. The bonuses and promotions combined with the frequent tournaments offer players an easy way of increasing their bankroll.

New online casinos in Sweden

With recent legislation, the online gambling sector in Sweden is growing. More operators are joining the market to meet the online gambling needs of Swedish punters. Any online gambling platform that wants to operate in Sweden must adhere to and comply with the country’s existing and future gambling regulations. Below is a list of the top online casinos in Sweden.

#1 Book of Dead

The ancient Egyptian themed online slot is similar to the Book of Ra Deluxe from Novomatic, with better graphics and 3D display animations. The game offers an improved and more thrilling gameplay both on desktop and mobile devices. The game was developed by Play ‘n GO in 2014 and has a maximum win of 5,000 x per wager.

The game has a decent RTP percentage of 96.21%, but with a high variance. The free spins offer a chance for players to make big wins. The free spins also have unique expanding symbols. The main downside of the game is that it only has one bonus feature. Online gamblers can play the game on demo mode without wagering any money. The five reeled online game has 10 paylines, with a minimum of 0.01 and a maximum of 100.

#3 Wolf gold

Dive into Native American history by playing the Wolf gold online slot. The five reeled slot was developed by Pragmatic and has 25 paylines. The game’s free spin feature allows players to win many free spins and increase their chances of winning. Players collect moon symbols using the Money Respin feature. The Free Spin feature multiplies the stakes six times.

Winning the 1000 X Mega Jackpot is easy. Players need to fill all 15 positions of the game. The maximum win of the Wolf Gold is 2,500 x, while the betting range is 25p to £125. The game has an RTP percentage of 96.01% and medium volatility. Players can play the slot while on demo mode with zero fundamental money wagering requirements.

The game has been developed using HTML5 technology. Hence you can play it on desktop, tablets and mobile devices. The five by three reeled design functions perfectly on handheld mobile devices.

Sweden Sports Betting Sites

Just like online casino games, sports betting is becoming very popular among Swedish punters. Since the Scandinavian land legalised online gambling, punters can now gamble online and place bets on sports. While many bookmakers offer virtual sports betting, the sportsbook needs to have the necessary license from Svenska Spel to operate in Sweden.

Swedish punters are encouraged to bet on online betting platforms which are licensed. The country is constantly upgrading and improving the interactive online gambling scene to ensure the safety and security of players. In 2019, the country passed a law that permitted Swedish punters to place bets on local and international licensed betting platforms.

With sports betting legal in Sweden, many sports enthusiasts can now enjoy various gaming events and also wager on the sporting events. Most of the sportsbooks offering virtual sports betting have mobile compatibility hence can be accessed from any given location in Sweden. No legal action is taken against Swedish punters who opt to wager on international sportsbooks. Hence increasing the betting markets available to Swedish online gamblers.

Sports betting on interactive platforms gives Swedish bettors a chance to use various payment options to boost their bankroll and overall gameplay experience. These sportsbooks also come with bonuses and promotions targeting both new and existing players. The various promotions and bonuses make sports betting more thrilling.

Below is our list of the best online sports betting platforms for Swedish players?

Other additional payment methods common among Swedish punters are:

E-wallets: there are different types of E-wallets. PayPal is a popular e-wallet widely used in the Swedish online gambling scene. Swedish punters can use it to deposit and withdraw funds with ease. Apart from PayPal, other popular e-wallets include ecoPayz, and Skrill, which are also online gambling-friendly.

• Pre-Paid Card Vouchers: Ukash and Paysafecard are popular Swedish vouchers or prepaid cards which you can use in loading funds to ones’ account. These cards offer instant deposits to the players’ accounts. Sweden has various retailers that can purchase and recharge prepaid cards and vouchers.
• Instant transfers or Idebit: the transactions are done by third parties. They act as a platform where one transfers funds from their bank accounts to the online casino. Players don’t need to submit any personal banking information.

When considering a payment method, check whether there are any fees attached to the payment method. Most banking methods offered by Swedish online casinos have no fees when depositing funds; however, some charge a small fee when users make a withdrawal request. The majority of the Swedish players prefer using Swiss as their preferred currency.

The speed of withdrawal is critical. Bank withdrawals requests take a maximum of one week to process. When making withdrawals from a Swedish online casino, you will be required to verify your identity.

Gambling regulator in Sweden

All operations done in the Swedish gambling and lottery sector are overseen and regulated by the Swedish Gambling Authority. The Swedish Gambling Authority is the regulatory and expert body responsible for ensuring all the activities in the Swedish gambling sector are legal, reliable and safe. One of the critical duties of the regulatory body is to issue permits, supervision and overall control of all the activities.

The regulatory body oversees all activities of both offline and online gambling institutions operating in Sweden. The Swedish government appoints the board of the Swedish Gambling Authority. The regulatory body is under the control and supervision of the Swedish Ministry of Finance. The Director-General of the Swedish Gambling Authority is a board member and manages all the board activities.

The regulatory body also grants lottery tickets and equipment used in surveillance and drawing in the gambling industry. It ensures that all operators in the Swedish gambling sector are compliant with the set regulations and supervise all gambling and lottery activities. Lastly, the Swedish Gambling Authority provides technical and professional training on Swedish gambling legislation and updates the government on the latest local and international gambling sectors developments.

Gambling taxes in Sweden

All gambling operators who have been awarded a permit by the Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority) must pay gambling tax. The operator is only exempted from paying taxes if the gambling activities are for the public interest. The gambling tax is paid on the difference between the pay-outs issued and the proceeds received from gambling activities.

Gamblers are not required to pay any tax on the winnings they make when engaging in gambling activities. Operators in the Swedish gambling sector have to pay an 18% tax on gross gambling revenue. Operators will pay the tax on the total revenue earned over a given taxation period (one month).

Apart from the tax, all Swedish gambling operators are subject to an annual inspection charge paid to the Spelinspektionen. The fee will facilitate the supervision of all gambling activities by the Spelinspektionen. The Swedish gambling tax regulation gives a guide on the schedule of payment of the Spelinspektionen.

In 1999 the Swedish parliament decided to open a state-owned gambling establishment. The gambling establishment was opened and met the international gambling standards. There are four main brick and mortar casinos in Sweden, operating in Sundsvall, Gothenburg, Malmo, and Stockholm. The casinos are:

• Casino Cosmopol Sundsvall – opened in 2001.
• Casino Cosmopol Malmo – opened in 2001.
• Casino Cosmopol Goteborg – opened in August 2002.
• Casino Cosmopol Stockholm – opened in 2003.

According to the current Swedish gambling regulations, Swedes can play and gamble online. When new regulations were introduced in January 2019, the Swedish gambling sector was divided into three main parts:

• State
• For public purposes
• Competitive

The competitive sector involves small betting companies and casinos. Due to the limited number of brick and mortar casinos, most Swedish gamblers opt for online casinos to meet their gambling needs.

Land-based gambling in Sweden

Currently, Sweden has four brick and mortar casinos that are owned by the state. The four casinos operate in the following four main cities: Sundsvall, Gothenburg, Malmo, and Stockholm.

• Casino Cosmopol Sundsvall, the first brick and mortar casino, was opened in 2001 and features 140 slot machines and 14 tables.
• Casino Cosmopol Malmo was the second casino in Sweden that was opened in 2001. It has 260 slot machines and 26 tables.
• Casino Cosmopol Goteborg was opened in August 2002. The casino has 343 slot machines, 26 tables and a “Poker Room” with 17 poker tables.
• Casino Cosmopol Stockholm is a Swedish casino that was opened in 2003. The brick and mortar casino has 399 slot machines and 36 gaming tables.

The Swedish government had initially planned to open six casinos but decided to opt for four casinos. The minimum age limit in Swedish casinos is 20 years old. The business operating hours of the four Swedish casinos are controlled by the Svenska Spel; the primary currency being used is kronor, even though players are also allowed to use American dollars and euros.

Did you know?

The government has made it illegal for Swedish companies to set online casinos for Swedish punters in Sweden. Only foreign gaming and gambling sites are allowed to operate in Sweden.