🇸🇪 Sweden moves to end credit-based gambling by 2026

Sweden is preparing to tighten its gambling laws once again. The Government has proposed a comprehensive expansion of the current credit-gambling ban, closing loopholes that still allow players to gamble with borrowed money. The measure, if enacted, will take effect on 1 April 2026 and aims to combat over-indebtedness and improve consumer protection.

⚖️ Regulatory framework and official standards

Under the Gambling Act (Spellag 2018:1138), licensed operators are already prohibited from directly offering credit to players. However, many gamblers continue to use credit cards, overdrafts, or “buy-now-pay-later” services to fund their play indirectly. The Swedish Government’s April 2025 proposal, now under legislative review, seeks to extend the ban to all forms of credit-funded gambling, whether issued by financial institutions or third-party lenders.

Under the draft, gambling companies and agents must refuse to process transactions when it is evident that the payment originates from credit. This includes credit cards, deferred payment platforms, or loan-based deposits. Enforcement will fall primarily under Spelinspektionen, supported by Finansinspektionen and Konsumentverket.

Limited exemptions may apply to certain charity or public-benefit lotteries, but these will be tightly controlled and subject to explicit authorisation. The reform draws on findings from SOU 2023:38, which linked gambling-related debt to Sweden’s rising household over-indebtedness, estimated at SEK 138 billion as of early 2025.

This initiative complements wider structural reforms, including the closure of state-owned Casino Cosmopol venues by January 2026, a measure intended to modernise Sweden’s gambling ecosystem. Spelinspektionen is also gaining enhanced oversight powers, including the right to specify the duty-of-care action plans operators must follow from October 2024 onwards.

🧩 Legal analysis and comparative insight

The forthcoming amendment represents a decisive transition from a partial prohibition to a near-total credit ban. While the law will not technically criminalise every conceivable credit use (for instance, incidental credit arising from some banking mechanisms), its intent is clear: no gambling should be financed with borrowed money.

This move places Sweden ahead of most European markets. The UK’s 2020 credit-card ban applied only to direct card use, while Sweden’s framework covers all indirect credit sources. The approach aligns more closely with Finland’s and Norway’s responsible-gaming models, which prioritise consumer protection over transactional freedom.

The key compliance challenge lies in implementation: operators will need sophisticated monitoring to identify credit-funded transactions. Payment service providers will be expected to collaborate closely with licensees to flag and block relevant payments. Non-compliance may result in significant fines, license suspension, or, under aggravated circumstances-revocation.

Critics, particularly from Sweden’s BOS (Branschföreningen för Onlinespel), warn that overly strict measures could push players toward unlicensed markets, undermining the current 85 % channelisation rate. The Government argues, however, that tighter regulation will ultimately strengthen public confidence in licensed gambling.

💼 Operational impact and enforcement examples

From a practical standpoint, gambling operators will be required to review payment integrations, terminate relationships with credit-facilitating intermediaries, and implement transaction-screening tools capable of identifying credit origins.

For instance, if a deposit originates from a “buy-now-pay-later” provider or a payday loan account, the operator must refuse or reverse the transaction. Any promotion or partnership with third-party credit providers will also be explicitly prohibited.

Charity operators seeking exemptions must prove that their gambling products serve a clear public benefit and that associated credit risk is negligible. Regulatory guidance on exemption criteria is expected from Spelinspektionen in early 2026.

Past enforcement precedents, such as the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court’s 2023 ruling on penalty fee calculation based on gross gaming revenue (GGR), suggest that violations under the new rules will carry substantial financial consequences. Moreover, cross-border operators targeting Swedish consumers will fall within the scope if their services are deemed to be “provided in Sweden,” thereby expanding the reach of enforcement beyond national borders.

🧭 Conclusion

Sweden’s proposed nationwide ban on gambling with credit, scheduled for implementation on 1 April 2026, marks one of the most ambitious consumer-protection reforms in the European gambling sector. It seeks to eliminate credit-based risk, reinforce responsible gaming standards, and enhance trust in the regulated market.

Operators should act now to assess contractual, technical, and compliance adjustments necessary to meet the upcoming obligations. The transition period offers an opportunity to audit systems, update payment policies, and strengthen internal governance.

For legal entities or gaming operators needing strategic advice, compliance reviews, or regulatory representation in the Nordic markets, contact NUR Legal for tailored assistance.

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