Swedish licence vs foreign licence
The big difference is the protection you have. Swedish licences are granted by Spelinspektionen (the Swedish Gambling Authority). Casinos holding one must comply with Spellagen, the Gambling Act: verify your identity, require deposit limits, be connected to Spelpaus and follow the bonus rule. A company with only a foreign gambling licence is not covered by those requirements, and winnings may be taxable.
This guide compares the two options objectively. We go through what a Swedish licence requires of the operator, what happens to your protection when you play outside Swedish regulation, how tax on winnings works and how to check a licence yourself.
What a Swedish casino licence means
Spelinspektionen is the government authority that ensures gambling for money in Sweden is conducted legally, safely and reliably. The authority, based in Strängnäs, grants licences, carries out supervision and runs spelpaus.se. It describes its goal as a sound and safe gambling market.
A licence is granted to a company, not to a brand. The company is called the licence holder and may well be registered abroad. LeoVegas, for example, is run by Roar Vegas Ltd and Unibet by Kaprifol Services Limited, both registered in Malta and both with a Swedish licence. So it is the licence that decides which rules apply – not where the company has its registered office.
The protection you get with a Swedish-licensed operator
Spellagen and the Gambling Ordinance (spelförordningen) place a range of requirements on anyone holding a Swedish licence. The most important ones for you as an online player are:
| Protection | What the rule means | Legal provision |
|---|---|---|
| Age limit | Gambling may not be offered to anyone under 18 | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 2 |
| Identity check | The operator must verify your identity in a secure way, usually with BankID | Spellagen Ch. 12Sec. 2 |
| Deposit limit | You must set a limit per day, week and month. Lowering it takes effect immediately, while an increase only applies after at least 72 hours | Spellagen Ch. 14, Sec. 7; Gambling Ordinance Ch. 11, Sec. 3 |
| Contact at high limits | If you choose a monthly limit above 10,000 kr, the operator must get in touch with you | Gambling Ordinance Ch. 11, Sec. 5 |
| Playing time | You must be able to choose whether to limit your login time | Gambling Ordinance Ch. 11, Sec. 4 |
| Self-test | A tool for assessing your own gambling | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 10 |
| Self-exclusion with the operator | Exclusion for a set period or until further notice, and for online casinos an immediate 24-hour exclusion | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 11 |
| Spelpaus | Connection to the national self-exclusion register | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 12 |
| Credit ban | The operator may not allow gambling financed by credit, and credit cards must be blocked | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 8 |
| Bonus | A bonus may only be offered on the first occasion of play | Spellagen Ch. 14Sec. 9 |
| Marketing | Must be moderate and may not be aimed specifically at minors | Spellagen Ch. 15Sec. 1 |
The credit ban was tightened on 1 May 2026. Since then, operators must block credit cards as a payment method, and the ban covers all forms of credit, including invoices and third-party loans. One of the tools that protects you most is the national exclusion, which we describe in our guide to Spelpaus and self-exclusion.
What a foreign gambling licence means for you
An operator can be licensed in another country, inside or outside the EU, without holding a Swedish licence. The protection you then have depends on that country’s rules. None of the items in the table above applies automatically, since the requirements only bind those licensed in Sweden.
Some consequences are clear. Spelpaus does not cover sites without a Swedish licence, so an exclusion via spelpaus.se does not stop you playing there. The ban on direct marketing to excluded players only applies to Swedish licence holders.
The question of unlicensed gambling is also under review. A memorandum from September 2025 (Ds 2025:23) proposes that Spellagen should apply based on where the player takes part rather than where the gambling is aimed, and that the current ban on promoting unlicensed gambling should also cover payment solutions. At the end of September 2026 the proposal had not yet become law. In March 2026, Spelinspektionen also submitted a report to the government on what unlicensed companies can do to prevent participation from Sweden.
Bonuses and advertising: different rules of play
The bonus rule is one of the most visible differences. With a Swedish licence holder you only get a bonus the first time you play with the company, and the rule applies per licence holder. In a 2020 ruling, the Administrative Court in Linköping found that a bonus package spread across several deposits counts as several bonuses. Recurring deposit bonuses and loyalty bonuses are therefore not allowed with Swedish licence holders.
Companies without a Swedish licence are not bound by that rule. That may sound tempting, but an offer is never worth more than the protection around it. Without a Swedish licence there is no mandatory deposit limit, no connection to Spelpaus and no credit ban under Swedish law. We go through how the rule works in detail in our guide to bonus rules in Sweden.
Advertising is regulated too. Commercial messages from Swedish licence holders must state the age limit and, except on radio, contact details for an organisation that offers support with gambling problems. Marketing that breaches the moderation requirements counts as unfair under the Marketing Practices Act.
Tax on winnings: where the difference costs money
The rules of Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Agency, draw a clear line between companies with and without a Swedish licence. A company being licensed in another EU country is not enough for winnings to be tax-free.
| Tax-free | Taxable (winnings over 100 kr) |
|---|---|
| Winnings of 100 kr or less | Gambling aimed at Sweden that requires a Swedish licence, when the company does not have one – even if it is licensed in another EU country |
| Gambling that requires a Swedish licence, when the company holds a Swedish licence | Online gambling not aimed at a market within the EEA |
| Gambling that does not require a Swedish licence and is aimed at Sweden or another EEA market | Gambling in person outside the EEA |
The tax is 30 per cent and is calculated on net winnings, meaning winnings minus stakes, per operator and calendar year. It is reported as income from capital. A loss with one operator may not be deducted from winnings with another. A hypothetical example: if you win 5,000 kr net with a taxable operator in a year, the tax is 5,000 × 0.30 = 1,500 kr.
Swedish licences and sister sites
The licensing system also explains how the groups are structured. Every brand aimed at Swedish players needs a licence holder with a Swedish licence, and often each brand has its own company. LeoVegas Group, owned by the American company MGM Resorts International, has for example four Swedish brands with four different licence holders.
An owner based in the USA or France does not change the fact that the licence is Swedish. It is the licence holder that must follow the rules, and it is the licence holder that decides whether you can get a welcome bonus. You can see which brands belong together and which licence holders they have in our overview of casino sister sites.
How to check a licence
- Find the licence holder’s name in the site’s footer.
- Search for the name or web address in Spelinspektionen’s licence register, which lists all valid licences and which websites they cover.
- Check that the web address you are visiting matches the one in the register.
- If the site is missing from the register, it has no Swedish licence, whatever the site itself says.
The register can also be downloaded as an Excel file, which is handy if you want to compare several companies at once.
Common mistakes
- Thinking an EU licence means tax-free winnings. If the gambling is aimed at Sweden without a Swedish licence, winnings over 100 kr are taxable.
- Thinking a foreign company lacks a Swedish licence. Many licence holders are registered in Malta.
- Thinking Spelpaus protects you everywhere. The exclusion only applies to companies with a Swedish licence.
- Seeing the licence as a guarantee that gambling is harmless. The licence gives you tools and rights, but gambling for money always carries a risk of losing.
Stödlinjen, the helpline, answers on 020-819 100, and there is a chat at stodlinjen.se if you would rather write.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check a casino’s Swedish licence?
The licence holder’s name should appear in the site’s footer. Then search for the company or web address in Spelinspektionen’s licence register, which lists everyone with a valid licence and which websites the licence covers. If the site is not there, it has no Swedish licence.
Are winnings from casinos without a Swedish licence tax-free?
Not always. According to Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Agency, winnings over 100 kr are taxable if the gambling is aimed at Sweden, requires a Swedish licence and the company does not have one, even if it is licensed in another EU country. The tax is 30 per cent of the net winnings.
Does Spelpaus apply at foreign casinos?
No. Spelpaus only covers operators with a Swedish licence. Sites without a Swedish licence are not connected, so an exclusion via spelpaus.se does not stop you playing there.
Can a company in Malta hold a Swedish licence?
Yes. The licence is Swedish even if the company is registered in another country. LeoVegas, for example, is run by Roar Vegas Ltd and Unibet by Kaprifol Services Limited, both registered in Malta and licensed by Spelinspektionen.
What does Spelinspektionen do?
Spelinspektionen is the authority that ensures gambling for money in Sweden is conducted legally, safely and reliably. It grants licences, carries out supervision and runs spelpaus.se. It is based in Strängnäs.