In a major push to protect its domestic market, the Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has formally reported a series of unlicensed iGaming companies to national authorities.
The move is backed by a comprehensive technical report detailing the administrative and technological barriers that unlicensed providers must now implement to effectively restrict Swedish citizens from their platforms.
The Shift from “Directional” to “Participant” Criteria
For years, the Swedish Gambling Act relied on the “directional criterion,” which only allowed the regulator to fine operators if they explicitly targeted Sweden (e.g., by using the Swedish language or accepting Swedish krona). Following a review led by Marcus Isgren, the government is now moving toward the “participant criterion.” Under this new standard, any online gambling site that is technically accessible to residents within Sweden is considered to be operating illegally, regardless of the operator’s intent.
Mandatory Technical Barriers
Spelinspektionen has mandated a strict checklist of technical requirements for any platform operating without a local license:
- Geo-Blocking: Platforms must identify and restrict access from Swedish IP addresses.
- Stop Messages: Automated notices must be displayed to users attempting access from within the region.
- Payment Blocking: Operators must block all incoming and outgoing transfers involving Swedish financial institutions, specifically flagging IBANs starting with the “SE” country code.
- Onboarding Blocks: Sites must remove Sweden from all registration menus and automatically reject Swedish postal codes or the +46 international dialing code.
Operators are also required to update their Terms of Service to explicitly exclude Swedish residents. Spelinspektionen has made it clear to unlicensed operators that “contract updates” alone are insufficient, as they must be matched by these technical obstacles. This aggressive regulatory phase applies to both new registrations and existing accounts, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the grey market as Sweden amends its Gambling Act for 2026.
