A wider-reaching ban on gambling with credit in Sweden has moved a step closer to being enacted, aiming to create a safer and more sustainable market.
New government proposals seek to amend the country’s Gambling Act to introduce a comprehensive ban on the use of credit cards for all forms of licensed gambling, both online and in-store, with a proposed start date of April 1, 2026.
This move expands upon existing rules which already prevent licensees from directly offering credit to players. The new legislation would prohibit operators from accepting payments if they know a player is financing their bets with credit from a third party. This includes a direct ban on accepting credit card payments.
The goal is to reduce the risk of over-indebtedness linked to gambling and protect consumers from significant financial difficulties.
The proposal has faced criticism from some industry bodies, such as the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), which argues that the ban could hand a competitive advantage to unlicensed operators who will continue to offer credit card payments, potentially driving players to the black market.
In addition to the credit ban, a separate memorandum proposes significant updates to the Gambling Act to better combat unlicensed gambling.
The key change would be a shift from the current “intent-based” model, which focuses on whether a service is targeting the Swedish market, to a “participant-based” model.
Under the new rules, enforcement could be taken against any platform that Swedish consumers are able to access and use, regardless of the operator’s location or marketing strategy.
These changes, which have been welcomed by BOS, are scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2027.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS:
“This is an important contribution to the possibility of strengthening the Swedish gambling licence market, which is now proposed to criminalize almost all unlicensed gambling in Sweden.”
