Gambling Guide
Legal gambling age in SE: 18 On This Page
Best Online Casinos for Players from Sweden
Introduction
As per the Gambling Act enacted by the Swedish Parliament in 2018, Sweden belongs to heavily-regulated gambling markets. Effective since Jan 1, 2019, this Act provides the legal framework for all games based on luck- both offline and web-based.
Are there good online casinos for players from Sweden?
Knowing that this market is a strictly organized one, where all forms of gambling are permitted, it’s only expected that the selection of entertainment establishments is a solid one. Since the operators are required to abide by the strict set of rules, punters can be sure that safety and protection are at the highest level possible.
The selection of games is the first parameter consumers analyze when looking for a new spot to play, but there’s much more to take into account. Only when a wider perspective is observed, one will be able to make the right decision.
Our guide offers great insight into a couple of significant aspects of online gambling in Sweden. If you want to take a closer look at banking and find out the hottest tips on selecting the right brand for you- this is the place for you.
Stay tuned and keep reading!
Tips for Swedish Online Gambling
The selection procedure is not as interesting as playing games, that’s for sure, but certainly is the necessary thing to do. Investing a couple of minutes in this BEFORE depositing and spinning the reels/shuffling the cards and claiming promos pays off.
Here are some useful directions each player should follow:
- Terms and Conditions
Eligibility to play games, restricted countries, registration process, ID validation procedure- all that and much more is part of this lengthy, but useful block of text. Take a couple of minutes extra to check out what’s the policy on dormant/ inactive accounts (is there a fee?), see if the casino requires notarized documents, investigate what constitutes irregular play, and so on.
- Bonus terms
Just like with the general ones, do check if Swedish punters are allowed to claim any bonuses. They are not permitted to claim introductory packages, as the country’s legislation from January 2019 prohibits operators from offering a bonus upon sign-up. It’s not a rare case that companies get penalized for failing to follow the KYC process or breaching any other terms.
- Honest reviews from reputable platforms
Other punters’ first-hand experience may be of help, especially if they are willing to share both positive and negative impressions. In addition to this, players can also read reviews on platforms specialized in exploring online casinos and games. Some of them even have separately displayed selection of blacklisted companies, so that users can be aware of which are the best to be avoided.
Trusted Portals
Live Dealer Options for Swedish Players
Being the closest a consumer can get to playing in a brick and mortar facility, live games are getting more and more wanted in every corner of the world. What’s even more, a growing number of providers develop games native live dealer games. The opportunity to play Blackjack or Roulette with a dealer who speaks Swedish/ French/German – no wonder their popularity exploded everywhere.
Below is the list of most popular live casinos in Sweden:
Live Dealer Casinos For Players From Sweden (523)
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Licensed and Regulated Swedish Casinos
A body in charge of regulating any kind of gambling and lottery in this country is Spelinspektionen aka the Swedish Gambling Authority. What this institution does is making sure the market is legal, safe, and reliable.
This body grants permits for national lotteries…
…gaming machines, restaurant casinos as well as certain forms of bingo. Also, it has overall responsibility for compliance and supervision of gambling and lottery operations.
For many years, Svenska Spel, a state-owned company was the only supplier permitted to offer online gambling to people in Sweden, whether it be casino games, sports betting, or other types of games. This monopoly ended in January 2019, when the mentioned Act opened the market for private operators as well.
While this stringent regulation and comprehensive set of rules are not always extremely appealing to the operators, it’s the only way to offer games to players from Sweden. Just like the UK and its Gambling Commission, Spelinspektionen closely monitors everything and does its finest to react on time.
Casino Trust and Security
When it comes to online wagering, safety and security are of essential importance. Each entertainment website should have some measures in place, which would ensure sensitive data and money transactions are safe and sound.
One of them is a random number generator (RNG). This seal is usually displayed at the bottom of the website, so visitors can click and verify it. The other is 128-bit SSL or any other encryption, which adds an extra layer of security in data protection.
Banking Options for Players from Sweden
Having in mind that this is the country where all forms of gambling are permitted and regulated, it’s natural to assume that punters have plenty of payment methods at their disposal.
Let’s start with credit cards…
…which are in majority of countries top-choice for gamblers. VISA is one of the most used, as it’s quick and efficient and all the transactions are instantly credited to one’s account. Then there’s Mastercard and Maestro. While all three options work for deposits, only VISA enables consumers to withdraw the funds.
Furthermore, a punter can choose direct bank transfers, and transfer the funds from one bank account to their gaming account. The biggest downside of this option is a bit longer processing time- between 3 and 5 business days.
In addition to these two possibilities…
…there’s also a generous selection of payment services and e-wallets, as well as cryptocurrencies. Just like credit cards, they are a frequent choice for those who appreciate efficiency (and who doesn’t?). Players can opt for Payz, EziPay, Neteller, Skrill, PaySafeCard, Skrill, Trustly, Webmoney, and a couple of others.
Also, clients can opt for some payment providers which are specialized in servicing consumers from this part of the world. One of them is PugglePay, a Sweden-based payment system, famous for its flexibility and simplicity. There’s Nordea, one of the leading payment systems utilized in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
Once again…
… before replenishing the casino account with any funds, do take time to go through the available options. Like we pointed out, it’s not always possible to cashout using the same method as for depositing. To avoid an unpleasant situation, the best is to inform on time.
Depositing and Withdrawing when in Sweden
If there’s to name the part that causes headaches, then it’s money transactions. It’s not a rare case to see users sharing their negative impressions, stating that a certain casino failed to give them the rightfully scored winnings.
And you know why that happens?
Because they fail to read Terms and Conditions and familiarize themselves with the accompanying rules. Reading that lengthy documents are certainly not the most interesting thing in the world, but it is for each player’s benefit. Therefore, let’s go analyze a bit of what you need to know which will help you avoid troubles.
- ID verification procedure
Do you need to submit some documents upon registration or only when you request withdrawals? Is it necessary to do so every time you cash out or just when the amount exceeds a specified limit? Does a consumer need to obtain notarized documents?
These are just some of the questions which will determine how lengthy the withdrawal procedure is. Sweden has clear anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, and it’s advisable for punters to follow those.
- Limits for deposits and cashouts
There are no unformed rules on this, but as long as it’s within the limits of average, that’s fine. UK and Sweden do have somewhat stricter rules regarding max limits compared to some other jurisdictions.
It would be wise to check the allowed withdrawal amount for bonuses. In most cases, it’s not the same as the sum one obtains by playing without a bonus.
- Fees
A vast number of operators try their best to eliminate them, but don’t be surprised if you encounter a venue that imposes fees on deposits. Sometimes certain payment providers have a somewhat higher commission (for example- bank transfers). Therefore, the wisest would be to compare and analyze all the available methods and find what’s best for you.
Problem gambling in Sweden
As far as the stats indicate, approximately 2% of the adult population (about 150,000 people) in Sweden have gambling problems. On top of that, there is an additional 5% in the risk zone for developing gambling problems.
However…
…Sweden is a country that pays particular attention to protection and offers punters plenty of useful and helpful tools. Although the risks are not completely eliminated, with these measures they are significantly minimized.
Operators have a range of solutions featured on their websites, such as limits for deposits, loss, playing sessions, and similar. There are also reality checks and cool offs. Furthermore, Sweden has a national self-exclusion register Spelpaus.se. In 2018, over 30,000 people signed up for this register.
Making sure responsibility is kept at the highest level possible…
…operators are also required to monitor the players’ gambling habits and react if they spot the signs of excessive gambling or any other problematic behavior.
Also, they should refrain from targeting minors in their messaging and they should pay particular attention to advertising. The way they present their products and services must be moderate in order to realistically reflect the possibility of winning without being overly suggestive.
AML (anti-money laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) are taken very seriously, ensuring the customers' identity is verified on a regular basis. In case a player has complaints about money lost on placed bets or from a gaming machine, he/she can seek help from the Swedish Consumer Agency.
On top of that…
…there are numerous helplines and non-profit organizations which offer assistance to those who need it. Players can also self-evaluate themselves by answering various questionnaires. Those are often found under the “Responsible Gambling” section on official websites of online casinos or on those platforms which provide assistance to people experiencing gambling-related harms.
Sweden Online Gambling FAQ
Are online casinos legal?
Yes, it is. Sweden belongs to countries where all forms of gambling are heavily regulated. While some of the laws and rules may seem too stringent, still customers have a transparently arranged environment that runs in line with the most stringent standards.
Do I have to download software to play?
Online casinos usually offer two options to their players- instant play or downloadable app. So, it’s not always necessary to install the software in order to play, you can do it directly in the browser. Instant play is the preferred option.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes, Sweden-oriented online casinos can be accessed on portable gadgets as well. Aside from desktop, you can launch the desired game on mobile phones and tablets.
How can I deposit/withdraw money?
There’s a multiverse of options for transactions. Players can choose among credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Moreover, cryptocurrencies are allowed, so punters indeed have plenty of banking methods at their disposal.
How long does it take to get my winnings?
It mainly depends on the selected banking method. Sometimes it takes a couple of hours, but it can extend to a couple of working days as well. Some casinos have stricter ID verification procedures, and until all documents are submitted and inspected, one cannot cashout. Sweden has comprehensive anti-money laundering policies.
Why can’t I play games from a certain developer?
For some reason, some markets prohibit content from certain developers which is why such games are restricted. This way, punters from certain jurisdictions will have a somewhat smaller selection of releases. Sweden is particularly intolerant towards content that contains an element that could be appealing to the younger audience- characters from fairy tales or cartoons for example.
What should I do if I have a problem with a casino?
In a well-regulated environment, such as Sweden, the level of customer protection and safety is quite high. Venues themselves offer a plethora of helpful tools that allow punters to organize their gambling habits. Also, there’s Spelpaus.se, a national self-exclusion register.
Written by: Alexis Gold
