TLDR
- Sweden’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen reported unlicensed online gambling companies to authorities on March 31, 2026
- A proposed law change would make any gambling site accessible to Swedish residents illegal, replacing the old rule that required proof of targeting
- Unlicensed operators would need to use geo-blocking, reject Swedish addresses, postal codes, and phone numbers during registration
- All bank transfers, card payments, and withdrawals involving Swedish financial institutions would be blocked
- Operators must update contracts to exclude Swedish users and stop all marketing visible to Swedish consumers
Sweden’s gambling regulator has taken a major step toward cracking down on unlicensed online gambling operators. Spelinspektionen formally reported these companies to Swedish authorities on March 31, 2026.
The report lays out specific technical and administrative steps that unlicensed platforms must follow to restrict Swedish users. It was designed to support ongoing efforts to change the Swedish Gambling Act.
Spelinspektionen said the report is technology-neutral. The goal is to give the government a clear view of what enforcement tools are available right now.
From Targeting to Participation
Under the current law, Sweden uses something called the “directional criterion” to define illegal gambling. This means the regulator can only fine operators if they are actively targeting the Swedish market.
To prove targeting, Spelinspektionen needed specific evidence. That included things like a website being available in Swedish or listing the Swedish krona as a payment option.
This made enforcement difficult. Foreign gambling websites that avoided these markers were largely out of reach.
Investigator Marcus Isgren led a review of the law last year. In September, he proposed removing the directional criterion entirely.
Isgren wants to replace it with a “participant criterion.” Under this new standard, a gambling site would be considered operating in Sweden simply if residents can access and use it.
The operator’s intent to target the market would no longer matter. If Swedish residents can gamble on the site, it falls under Swedish law.
Technical and Financial Barriers
The report details several technical measures unlicensed platforms would need to put in place. Operators must use geo-blocking software to identify and restrict users from Sweden.
Websites would need to show automated stop messages to anyone trying to access the platform from Swedish territory. If a user’s location cannot be determined, access must be denied entirely.
This rule also covers users trying to hide their location using tools like VPNs.
On the registration side, the rules are just as strict. Sweden must be removed from country selection menus during sign-up. Any registration attempt with a Swedish address, postal code, or phone number using the +46 country code must be automatically rejected.
Spelinspektionen also outlined financial restrictions. Unlicensed platforms must block all incoming bank transfers from Swedish banks.
Credit and debit card payments through institutions requiring Swedish electronic identification must also be rejected. Outbound withdrawals to Swedish bank accounts would be banned as well.
The regulator said systems must flag and block International Bank Account Numbers starting with the country code “SE.”
Operators would also need to update their terms of service to state that people located in Sweden cannot use their gambling services. However, Spelinspektionen made clear that contract changes alone are not enough without matching technical blocks.
The rules also require operators to stop all marketing and promotional activity that could reach Swedish consumers. These requirements apply to both new registrations and existing player accounts.
