Sweden has carved out a remarkable niche in the world of gambling, evolving from traditional land-based venues to a robust online market. As of Q2 2025, the Swedish gambling sector generated over SEK 7 billion, showcasing a clear shift towards digital platforms. With the projected ban on physical casinos looming, the landscape in Sweden is undergoing transformative change. This article delves into the various aspects of gambling in Sweden, encompassing its history, types of casinos, legal framework, cultural attitudes, and future trends.
Overview Of Casinos In Sweden
The landscape of casinos in Sweden has experienced significant transformation, particularly in the last few years. In Q2 2025, the gambling market reported SEK 7.02 billion (€638 million) in revenue, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 1.9%. Online gambling has emerged as the dominant force within this sector, contributing SEK 4.63 billion to the total revenue, which is approximately 64% of the entire gambling market. This rapid digitalization underscores a dramatic shift in how Swedes engage with gambling.
Recent developments indicate that traditional gaming venues are yielding ground as the government set its sights on a more regulated and safer gambling environment. Following the Swedish parliament’s decision to abolish all land-based casinos by January 1, 2026, the last remaining state-run casino, Casino Cosmopol, ceased operations in April 2025, marking an end of an era for in-person gambling experiences.
History Of Gambling In Sweden
Gambling in Sweden is not a recent phenomenon: it has a rich history. The government has traditionally controlled the gambling market, primarily through state-run lotteries and land-based casinos. For decades, Casino Cosmopol was the only major player in the land-based casino sector, operating under strict regulations intended to ensure public safety and responsible gambling practices.
But, the landscape began to change significantly in 2025, when parliament voted to dismantle the last vestiges of land-based gambling by banning casinos entirely. This decision was rooted in growing concerns about gambling’s social impact, pushing lawmakers to move towards a predominantly online gambling framework.
Types Of Casinos Available
The current casino landscape in Sweden is characterized by two primary types of gambling venues: land-based casinos and online casinos.
Land-Based Casinos
Historically, land-based casinos were the mainstay of the Swedish gambling scene. But, following the closure of Casino Cosmopol, no operating land-based casinos remain in the country as of 2026. In their last weeks, land-based commercial gaming, including slot machines, generated a mere SEK 63 million in Q2 2025, indicating a stark decline in interest and participation in physical venues.
Online Casinos
In contrast to their land-based counterparts, online casinos have surged in popularity. These platforms move the entire gambling experience to users’ screens, enabling them to play their favorite games from the comfort of their homes. The Swedish Gambling Authority has been closely monitoring this sector, especially because it represents the future of gambling in the region. Even though facing regulatory scrutiny about market channelization, online casinos reported revenues of SEK 4.63 billion in Q2 2025, reflecting a 1.4% growth from the previous year. Check on tucancasino1.net.
Legal Regulations And Licensing
The Swedish gambling environment is tightly regulated by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen), which oversees licensing and compliance. Key regulations include:
- Tax Rate: The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax is set at 22% as of 2025, increased from 18%.
- Payment Restrictions: A significant policy introduced in April 2025 prohibits credit card transactions for gambling purposes.
- Server Location: Operators must host their systems in Sweden or ensure they are accessible to regulatory authorities.
- Currency Requirement: All wagers must be placed in SEK.
- Upcoming Reforms: New laws are expected to be implemented, aiming to ban gambling on credit.
State-owned operators, such as Svenska Spel, continue to maintain a stronghold on the market, generating SEK 1.42 billion from lotteries and slot machines in Q2 2025.
Cultural Attitudes Toward Gambling
The cultural perspective on gambling in Sweden is undergoing a transformation as society grapples with its implications. There is heightened concern about the social impacts of gambling, which is reflected in the declining channelization rate. This has prompted regulatory bodies to intervene.
In October 2024, authorities reinforced responsible gambling requirements designed to better protect consumers. The implementation of credit transaction bans further highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring a safer gambling environment. The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling has also been vocal about addressing these channelization gaps to bolster participation in licensed platforms.
Future Trends In Swedish Gambling Industry
The future of the gambling industry in Sweden looks promising, with expectations of revenue growth to approximately $2.2 billion by 2025. Anticipated trends include:
- Digitalization: The shift towards online gambling is expected to continue, driven by the complete elimination of physical casinos.
- Mobile Penetration: Sweden boasts a high mobile penetration rate, with 14.8 million devices spread across 10.6 million inhabitants, making mobile gambling increasingly accessible.
- User Growth: Projections indicate that user penetration will grow to 41.2% by 2030, up from 38.8% in 2025.
- Regulatory Tightening: Ongoing reforms will continue to shape the landscape, focusing on responsible gambling and ensuring better channelization of the market.
