Unveiling the Swedish Gambling Landscape: A Shocking Reality
Swedish players often struggle to differentiate between legitimate and unauthorized gambling platforms.
Welcome to the world of Swedish gambling, where over 70% of players can't tell the difference between legal and illegal operators, according to a chilling report by Spelinspektionen1. The survey, conducted by Enkatfabriken, involved 1,644 participants, with 1,164 admitting to gambling in the last year.
As the awareness of the importance of a license grows, 42% now consider it a vital factor when choosing a provider - an impressive surge from the previous year's 28%. However, this recognition is not universal, with only 27% of 18-19-year-olds opting for licensed providers, compared to a staggering 52% among those over 65.
Navigating the Legal Gambling Maze in Sweden
The Swedish government aims to channel 90% of gambling activities to licensed providers. However, the reality is far from rosy, with the so-called channelization rate lingering between 69% and 82%. This decline in channelization rate compared to 2023 has been reported by AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) to iGamingBusiness1.
One major hurdle is the ambiguous legal landscape. Illegitimate operators can still targeted Swedish players in Swedish and accept payments in Euros, exploiting a legal loophole currently under review as part of a regulatory overhaul initiated in February 2025. Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of the Swedish gambling association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS), states that this single measure may not be enough to boost the channelization rate 1.
Identifying a Legal Gambling Provider
If you're navigating the Swedish gambling scene and want to ensure you're playing with a legit operator, here are some tips:
- Check Spelinspektionen's Whitelist: Legitimate providers should be listed on the official whitelist of the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen).
- Look for the SGA Logo: Licensed operators often display the SGA logo on their website to signal a secure and safe gambling experience.
- Ensure Compliance with Regulations: Legal providers must adhere to stringent regulations, offering player protection measures like deposit limits and self-exclusion options through Spelpaus.se2.
- Pay Attention to Payment Methods and Currency: Licensed sites typically support payments in Swedish Krona (SEK) and use popular Swedish payment methods like Swish and Trustly5.
- Verify the Operator's License Number: Reputable operators should have a license number from Spelinspektionen that they can provide upon request.
Challenges in the Gambling Industry
The survey additionally offers insights into the gaming behavior of Swedes. Entertainment remains the primary motivation for gaming (69%), followed closely by the hope of winning big (40%). Social reasons for gaming are on the decline, especially among older players. Among those under 29, 12% cited social reasons for gaming, compared to just 4% among those over 65.
The national self-exclusion platform Spelpaus.se3 is known to 60% of respondents, but only 6% have actually used it. Among those who have self-excluded, 63% cited excessive gaming and 36% attributed their action to constant exposure to gambling advertising. Interestingly, women were significantly less informed about Spelpaus, with 43% compared to 26% of men.
Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: In response to these findings, Hoffstedt has called for state measures to offer licensed providers more attractive conditions1. The industry and Spelinspektionen must work together to communicate the benefits of playing with licensed providers. A quality seal for licensed providers was once discussed, but abandoned due to the risk of fraud by illegal operators. Instead, licensed providers typically display the SGA logo on their website to signal security. Stay safe, gamers!
What role does the SGA logo play in identifying a legal gambling provider in Sweden?
If a gambling provider is listed on Spelinspektionen's Whitelist, it is considered legitimate.
Licensed gambling operators often display the SGA logo to signal a secure and safe gambling experience.
Ensuring compliance with regulations, offering deposit limits and self-exclusion options are measures taken by legal providers.
