Marcus Isgren prepared a memorandum after reviewing the Act, and state operator Svenska Spel confirmed full support for his conclusions.

Key Points

• The proposal widens enforcement to include operators not preventing Swedish access, beyond those illegally targeting Sweden.
• Liability extends to companies giving financial or administrative services to illegal gambling operators.
• Svenska Spel supported the memorandum.

Swedish Gambling Act Review Proposes Key Amendments

Since early 2025, Marcus Isgren has examined the Swedish Gambling Act to identify areas needing amendment or strengthening. He submitted his proposals on the 2018 legislation to the Ministry of Finance, which Svenska Spel, the state gambling operator, welcomed. Two main language changes are central to the proposal, with the first replacing the directional criterion with a participant criterion to include any platform accessible in Sweden.

Spelinspektionen previously justified enforcement by citing Swedish-language interfaces or explicit references to Sweden in gambling platforms’ marketing. That evidence alone would no longer justify enforcement; instead, operators must prove they prevent Swedish participation proactively. Svenska Spel CEO Anna Johnson commented: “We raised concerns that rules on illegal gambling were too weak. The proposals ensure consumer protection and strengthen trust in Sweden’s gambling sector.”

Ban on Illegal Gambling Promotion Expanded to Payment Providers

Another modification extends the ban on illegal gambling promotion to include services like payment providers and other financial or administrative systems. Any worker processing payments for a gambling business must assume Swedish players are involved and confirm the operator holds a license. Sweden’s self-exclusion system Spelpaus gains stronger requirements through new operator obligations, including tighter verification processes.

By September 2025, Spelinspektionen reported channelisation into the regulated market had dropped to 85%, below the 90% target. If approved, the Act’s new rules will start on 1 January 2027, potentially helping Sweden achieve the 90% goal. Johnson also stated: “More steps are needed to continue tackling illegal gambling effectively.” BOS, Sweden’s online gambling trade body, supported the changes, with Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt saying: “We expect a government bill to the Riksdag soon. Unlicensed gambling must be eliminated.”