Sweden Orders Youth Gambling Inquiry As Risky Play Rises Among Young Men

The Swedish government has launched an inquiry into youth gambling that could lead to new regulatory measures, particularly around marketing.

Chief Legal Officer Zandra Milton has been appointed special investigator, with the report due to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs by 29 February 2028. The inquiry will examine gambling behaviour across licensed and unlicensed operators and assess how both groups market their products.

Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wyman said “a safe and healthy gambling market” “requires that the state and the gaming companies take responsibility for strengthening the protection of people who are at risk of harm”.

Health Minister Elisabeth Lann has commented, saying “there has been a doubling of risky gambling among young men” in recent years, with “one in five” affected. Also, Gender Equality Minister Nina Larsson added that “boys and young men are greatly overrepresented among those who get caught up in gambling addiction”.

Inquiry will assess affordability, time limits and gambling-like game features

The Ministry highlighted that the investigation will “analyse the need to review young players’ financial situation when gambling and consider mandatory time limits when gambling”. It will also examine gambling-like features in video games to determine whether intervention is needed.

Sweden plans to study regulatory frameworks in other countries to identify measures that could reduce gambling harm among young people. The inquiry will consider how stronger restrictions could affect channelisation toward licensed operators.

“The investigator will weigh new protective measures against the risk that gambling will increase at gambling companies without a Swedish license,” the Ministry stated. “Gambling with such companies is not covered by the protection of the Swedish gambling regulation,” it added.

Black-market risk remains central to Sweden’s policy debate

The inquiry follows criticism of Sweden’s current approach to problem gambling. In February 2026, the Swedish National Audit Office described central government efforts as “ineffective” and recommended that agencies “develop practical and operational guidance and harness locally and regionally available knowledge”.

The government’s effort to balance stronger protections against black-market risk reflects a major regulatory challenge. It must improve protection for young people without weakening regulations against illegal operators.

Sweden’s inquiry reflects youth gambling as a policy priority, with the rise of risky play among young men. The challenge will be designing tougher measures around affordability, marketing and time limits without pushing the same consumers they are protecting to unlicensed operators.