Regulation

Industry slams Spelinspektionen for punishment over dialogue

By Johan Ekström · Published 3 November 2026

Swedish trade body BOS has gone hard at the gambling regulator Spelinspektionen in a new report. The authority is accused of favouring punishment over dialogue with licensed operators. Meanwhile, Spelinspektionen itself has raised objections to incoming EU anti-money-laundering rules, and a new supplier has secured a Swedish gambling licence.

BOS: Spelinspektionen punishes rather than talks

The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, BOS, commissioned a legal review comparing Spelinspektionen with other Swedish authorities. The conclusion is that Spelinspektionen takes a tougher and more punitive approach to supervision than other Swedish authorities, with too much emphasis on sanctions rather than dialogue.

Secretary General Gustaf Hoffstedt says the authority is more heavy-handed and less focused on dialogue or collaborative problem-solving compared with other Swedish authorities. The review singles out anti-money-laundering supervision in particular. Of nine reviewed decisions between 2022 and 2025, seven involved sanctions at or above 50 percent of the maximum, with two reaching around 91 and 100 percent. The report also notes that the regulator recently reaffirmed warnings and imposed penalties of SEK4 million on the gaming arm and SEK40 million on the sports betting business of Hillside Group.

For players at a licensed site, this debate has no immediate effect on your account. But it reflects a wider tension between supervision and industry that could shape future rules. If you want to understand how a Swedish licence compares with foreign alternatives, our guide has more background.

Spelinspektionen itself worried about new EU rules

While facing criticism from industry, the regulator is also trying to shape new EU rules. Spelinspektionen has raised concerns about plans to change Sweden’s anti-money-laundering laws. Sweden must adapt its legislation to new EU requirements by July 2027.

The authority wants to keep the power to attach coercive fines to orders requiring companies to hand over information or documents, a power that risks disappearing under the new framework. Spelinspektionen argues that fines for non-compliance serve a different purpose from coercive fines meant to secure information for an investigation, and that without access to documentation, supervisors may struggle to determine whether an operator is meeting its AML obligations. The authority also wants to be able to inspect premises of outside companies that carry out work for operators, not just the operators’ own offices.

On fine levels, the authority backs a ceiling of ten percent of turnover, but has questioned how that would work alongside the new EU standards for financial penalties. Under the proposed rules, operators could face fines of up to ten percent of turnover, and the Swedish regulator has questioned whether the European standards would actually allow such high penalties despite the higher Swedish ceiling.

For Swedish players, none of this changes anything today. But if rules tighten, it could eventually affect how quickly licence holders such as Betsson, LeoVegas and ComeOn must report and act on suspected money laundering.

New supplier secures Swedish licence

In a separate development, software provider S Gaming has secured a Swedish gambling licence, according to industry media. That means the company can now offer its software to operators wanting to serve the regulated Swedish market.

A new licence at Spelinspektionen makes no difference for players already using an established licence holder, but it shows the Swedish market keeps attracting new entrants despite tighter oversight. You can always check which company stands behind a brand in our overview of casino sister sites.

The bigger picture

These three stories show a market under tension. The industry wants more dialogue and less punishment, while Spelinspektionen itself is fighting to keep tools ahead of new EU rules. Meanwhile, new companies keep seeking the Swedish licence, suggesting the market remains attractive despite tougher supervision. Whatever the outcome, the same protections apply to you as a player: one bonus per licence holder, and the option to exclude yourself entirely through Spelpaus.se if gambling feels like a problem. Support is also available via Stödlinjen.se.