Best Online Sweden Casino

Whether you gamble on a computer or in one of the many mobile casino apps that casinos are continuously coming out with, it is extremely important to choose a trustworthy gambling site that meets expectations. For Swedes, this becomes even more important as many online casinos chose not to get a Swedish gambling licence after new rules were introduced in 2019, simply because their sites didn’t meet the requirements.

As a result, the selection of trustworthy Swedish casino sites is a bit smaller than it was a few years back, but don’t let this get you down. Our list of casinos only contain sites that are licensed by the Swedish Gambling Authority, and it saves you the trouble of having to look for yourself.

Is Gambling Legal in Sweden?

Yes, gambling is legal in Sweden (including online gambling), but it is also heavily regulated. It used to affect mostly casinos located in Sweden and there were many gray areas when it came to playing casino games on the internet. However, new laws came into effect in January 2019, which changed how online casinos in Sweden operate.

The result was that foreign casino sites can now only operate in Sweden if they have a Swedish gambling licence and if they comply with a long list of requirements, in a new effort to regulate the online casino industry.

All the biggest sites were quick to get Swedish gambling licences so that they could continue offering their services to Swedish players also after the rule change in early 2019, but there were also hundreds of sites that abruptly chose to stop catering to Swedes due to simply being unable to meet the tightened requirements.

Gambling Monopoly Held by Svenska Spel

Swedes aren’t new to government-controlled gambling as this is something that has been around for years. All gambling companies in Sweden are government owned and controlled, and have been for a long time. Monopoly is held by Svenska Spel to further control the gambling industry, and many of the existing rules are there to keep gambling (both online and in physical locations) as safe and regulated as possible for Swedish players.

Online casino gambling at overseas casinos is allowed, and while strictly controlled by the Swedish Gambling Authority, it still gives Swedes a bit more freedom to choose where (and what) they wish to play.

The Swedish Gambling Act Was Due for an Update

As you may already know, online gambling was originally legalised back in 2002 (land-based gambling has been legal since 1994) in Sweden, but the market—as opposed to in-country gambling—didn’t become regulated until in 2019. That is a very big window and we are talking about 17 years of unregulated gambling, with few laws and regulations in place to protect the player.

It is true that the new Gambling Act came as a surprise to many—an unpleasant surprise to online gambling sites that weren’t able to obtain proper licensing, but the truth is that it was a change that was well overdue and should have been expected.

Does Swedish Law Protect Players who Gamble at Foreign Casinos?

The good thing about the new 2019 law updates is that you are now a lot more protected as a casino player, and as long as you choose sites that have an active Swedish Gambling Authority licence, you have nothing to worry about. It can be tempting to choose unlicensed casinos with seemingly better bonus offers, but it could end up costing you in the end.

Can a Sweden Casino advertise

Only casinos that are licensed in Sweden are legally allowed to advertise within the country, and to advertise in a way that is aimed at Swedish casino players. Therefore, you won’t be seeing too many online ads as you did before January 1, 2019, and only from casinos that have invested in proper licensing.

How About Land-Based Gambling in Sweden?

There are a total of four casinos in Sweden, and these are all run by Svenska Spel and named Casino Cosmopol. If you live in a bigger city, chances are you’ve walked by one without even realising, as they aren’t as flashy-looking on the outside as a casino in, let’s say, Las Vegas or another gambling mecha.

You can find the four land-based casinos in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Sundsvall and Malmö.

With such few available (physical) gambling sites, many Swedes have instead turned to online gambling, as this allows you to gamble from the comfort of your living room, which becomes extra convenient if you happen to live in a remote area.

What makes a Casino Online in Sweden legal

If you have gambled from any other country or if you gambled before the new Gambling Act that took over in 2019, then you probably already know how important licensing is. Before, all you had to do was to scroll down to the bottom of the casino page or check the terms and conditions to make sure the casino was licensed, and any of the top licensing authorities was enough. Examples are the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the Gibraltar Licensing and Regulatory Authority and the Curacao E-Gaming Licensing Authorities.

While these are still a sign of a trustworthy brand, a casino online Sweden now also need to be licensed by the Swedish Gambling Authority. Any casinos without Swedish license are illegal and should not be allowing local players to join.

Can I get a bonus at an online casino in Sweden

Casino bonuses are often the first thing people ask about when joining a new casino, but there is good and bad news for bettors who gamble at an online casino Sweden. Before the Gambling Act went into effect in 2019, Swedes could get casino welcome bonuses, surprise free spins, participate in cashback programs and much more, and even come across the occasional no deposit casino bonus when joining a new site.

New Rules, Fewer Casino Bonuses

This, however, has changed drastically with the new rules. Online casinos are no longer allowed to offer more than one bonus to their players, and this is per owning company and not individual casinos. What exactly does this mean for you as a player?

Let’s say you received a welcome bonus from an online casino, and then you sign up for a new casino that is owned by the same company. In this scenario, you won’t be eligible for a welcome bonus at the second casino since the two share an owner, and since you already received your welcome bonus at casino number one.

There is also only one casino bonus allowed per household, and even if you haven’t received a bonus yet, someone else in your home might have (even if playing from a separate account) which makes you ineligible.

The Rules are There to Protect You

It may seem like a bummer to only get one casino bonus per casino, but the rules are there for a good reason. The Swedish government wants to regulate the casinos’ efforts to persuade gamblers to play, as a tempting casino bonus could potentially aid in the development of gambling addiction and general overspending.

What are the Wagering Requirements at Online Casinos in Sweden?

One thing that hasn’t changed and that you’ll certainly recognise (both from before 2019 and from gambling in other countries) are the wagering requirements. You may only be eligible for one casino bonus per gambling site, but they almost always come with wagering requirements where your “free” money needs to be wagered a certain number of times.

The wagering requirements can be anything from x2 to x40, or essentially whatever each casino considers fair. The good thing is that to obtain a Swedish gambling licence, these wagering requirements and specific terms need to be highly transparent and easy to find, read and comprehend. You will find the specifics on your casino website.

Does a Sweden Casino offer responsible gaming tools

When joining a Sweden Casino you should adhere to responsible gambling. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can’t become addicted to gambling just because of the strict regulations set by the Swedish government. The rules and restrictions are there to facilitate a healthy gambling relationship, but you also need to be willing to put in the work yourself.

All sites licensed under the Swedish Gambling Authority need to have gambling limits in place so that you can budget how much you are allowed to spend during a day, week or month, and you should also have the option to exclude yourself from the casino for 6 months or the time of your choice.

Make use of these tools and make sure your spendings are never greater than what you can afford to lose, as there are no guarantees you’ll win when gambling on the internet.

Resources to Promote Responsible Gambling for Swedish Gamblers

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are losing control of your gambling, or when gambling starts causing you stress and anxiety rather than joy, then it is time to seek external help and especially if you have already set up gambling limits.

Luckily, Sweden is a country with excellent resources for those who suffer from gambling addiction or who feel they might be at risk, and we have listed some of these resources such as Spel Paus, Stödlinjen, Spelberoendes Riksförbund and Spelberoendegruppen. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it.

How to choose the best online casino in Sweden

If you are unsure of what to think of the existing gambling rules in Sweden, consider this: Is it important to you that you, your personal information, your payment details and your money are safe when you gamble online? If the answer is yes (which it should be), then you could greatly benefit from the controlled gambling industry in Sweden.

The restrictions aren’t there to restrict you from having a good time, but to make sure you stay safe and maintain a healthy relationship to online gambling. You have the option of gambling through Svenska Spel directly, or to choose one of the online gambling sites that are licensed and regulated by Svenska Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority).

Responsible gambling always starts and ends with you, and the Swedish government is only there to help guide you in the right direction, while also making it more difficult for dishonest gambling sites and players to enter the industry. Few countries provide an online gambling scene as safe as Sweden, and that is something worth being grateful for.