The regulated gambling market in Sweden recorded SEK 6.61 billion ($693.4 million) in Q1 2025, based on new data from Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority. The figures show a 0.9% fall from SEK 6.67 billion seen by the industry in Q1 2024. At the same time, the authority reported that 125,000 people were listed with Spelpaus, Sweden’s national self-exclusion service, showing a 3.5% rise from the previous quarter.

Key Q1 Data Points in Sweden

• Commercial online gaming and betting reached SEK 4.28 billion, representing a .2% year-over-year decrease.
• State lottery and slot machine games made SEK 1.32 billion, marking a 3% drop.
• State casino games (Casino Cosmopol) came to SEK 26 million, dropping 60%.
• Games for public benefit, lotteries, were at SEK 886 million, reflecting a 3.5% increase.
• Games for public benefit, hall bingo, delivered SEK 49 million, with results unchanged.
• Land-based commercial gaming (restaurant casino) reached SEK 52 million, remaining steady.

Online gaming and sports betting in Sweden brought in the largest share of gambling revenue for Q1. The segment had very little change, which suggests the sector may have reached a limit. The only section that gained ground in Q1 was charitable lotteries, at a 3.5% increase. The state casino game sector, especially Casino Cosmopol, posted the biggest decline.

The End of Casino Cosmopol

Casino Cosmopol’s lower revenues were expected because only the Stockholm branch was still open for Q1. That site has now also shut. Casino Cosmopol used to run four locations under Svenska Spel, which was the old state monopoly. The firm closed Sundsvall, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Gothenburg and Malmö ended operations last year, and Sundsvall closed in 202.

On April 2, the Riksdag, which is Sweden’s parliament, voted to close all land-based casino gaming, stating it “no longer serves its purpose” as numbers and profits at Casino Cosmopol fell. After the vote, Stockholm’s Casino Cosmopol was set to close by February 1, 2026. Svenska Spel, though, closed it shortly after April 20.

It’s important that, while Casino Cosmopol is shut, the so-called “restaurant casinos” continue operating and are not affected by the Riksdag move. These “casinos” are usually found inside restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks that sell alcohol. They run a small number of slot machines and casino games. Operators can still ask for new licenses in this area.

Spelpaus Usage Continues to Grow

Along with financial figures, Spelinspektionen’s Q1 findings show a rise in the number of people choosing self-exclusion from gambling.

The 125,000 registered at Spelpaus in Q1 was the highest figure yet. That marked a 3.5% increase from 120,600 in Q4 2024, which itself rose 3% over Q3 2024. In Q3 2024, growth was 5.9% compared to the quarter before.

Spelpaus began in 2019, when Sweden switched from a monopoly to a multi-license system. The register hit 100,000 users in October 2023. The steady rise in people self-excluding follows the regulator’s 2024 annual report, which noted that awareness among the public is increasing. That report stated that 65% of Swedes know about Spelpaus.

Despite this, problems continue. Offshore gambling providers break the rules and still give access to those who self-exclude. In a 2023 study, 49% in Sweden breached their exclusion, and most played at offshore online casinos.

Spelinspektionen has identified the risk of unlicensed gambling and has called for tighter rules over illegal operators. The regulator has banned many of these groups. The most recent case was an immediate ban on Satoshi Gaming Group.