Sweden Jurisdiction profile

Online gambling is alive and well in Sweden, with several options for players to consider. The country offers online casino gaming, poker, bingo, sports betting, horse race betting, lotteries, and social gaming. For the most part, Spelinspektionen is in charge. The regulator, also known as the Swedish Gambling Authority, ensures that every licensed operator acts according to local rules and regulations for a safe and secure gaming environment. On January 1, 2019, the Swedish Gambling Act was enforced, offering a regulated landscape for operators in Sweden. Companies provide all legalized gambling services with licenses authorized by the Authority. Those operating in the market without proper licensing are considered illegal and prohibited. The Gambling Act is supported by secondary legislation to create a solid gambling market. Additional legislation connected to the industry includes: Swedish Gambling Tax Act Gambling Ordinance Regulations/General Advice on Responsible Gambling Registration requirement regulations. State lottery regulations Land-based commercial gambling regulations Gambling ships in international traffic Token gambling machines For a company to obtain licensing, it must apply for and gain approval from regulators. There are six different types of licensing in the country. The first is for the state monopoly, which includes land-based venues, gambling machines, and certain lottery types. Charities and good causes licensing are available for bingo, lottery gaming, and pool betting on horse races. Commercial gambling licensing can be obtained by hotels, restaurants, or amusement parks to offer gambling machines and limited games. Ships in international traffic are eligible for licensing based on slots and limited casino games. For online gambling, operators can also earn a commercial license with a focus on online table games, slots, and bingo games. Land-based and online sports betting licensing is also available. The licensing process is daunting and requires several steps, including supporting documentation. A company must provide certain paperwork based on the licensing type they are trying to obtain. Paperwork may include highlighting procedures for handling personal information and anti-money laundering compliance among players, a business plan for operations, and a description of the company structure and operations. Licensing has fees associated with each type. A commercial online gambling license or betting license is 400,000 SEK. An operator that applies for both can pay a lower 700,000 SEK fee. Operators must pay a supervisory fee to the Swedish Gambling Authority along with the licensing fee. This fee is based on a license holder's annual gross gaming revenues. It starts at 30,000 SEK for companies that gross less than 10m SEK. For higher earners of 500m SEK or higher, the operator must pay 500,000 SEK. For the first year of operation, companies must pay a fixed fee to the regulator valued at 450,000 SEK. Regulators also require operators to protect players in every way possible. Excessive gambling must be prohibited, and every player needs to be monitored. Follow-ups are required to ensure that players reduce gambling if needed.