Sweden Moves to Ban All Gambling Funded by Credit
The Swedish Government has unveiled a proposal that would prohibit nearly all forms of credit-financed gambling across the country. The planned legislative change is designed to strengthen existing restrictions and close gaps that have allowed credit-based gambling to persist despite earlier regulatory efforts.
Under current Swedish law, credit use is already limited in the gambling sector. However, the scope of the existing ban is narrow, targeting only credit directly offered by licensed gambling companies and their representatives at the point of sale. This has left room for players to fund their gambling activities through credit cards or by borrowing from third-party lenders.
Legislation Aims to Remove Remaining Credit Pathways
The new proposal, presented through a legislative council referral, would extend the credit ban significantly. It would block operators and agents from enabling or accepting any form of credit-based gambling, even when financing is provided by unrelated parties.
Among the key provisions is a rule preventing operators from accepting bets if they are aware that the player is using borrowed funds. It also forbids accepting payments via credit cards, as long as it's evident at the time of purchase that the transaction involves credit, this restriction applies equally to physical locations and online platforms.
The proposal also instructs gambling operators to adopt preventative measures discouraging credit use, such as displaying clear warnings in shops and online. These actions should be simple and affordable to implement, using existing tools where possible, such as systems that block credit card transactions without affecting sales of other goods.
Reducing Gambling-Related Debt a Central Goal
According to the government, these changes are motivated by the strong link between gambling-related harm and personal debt. The aim is to create a more sustainable gambling environment by ensuring that play is not fueled by borrowed money.
“Despite today’s regulations, there is a strong connection between problem gambling and over-indebtedness,” the government emphasized in its explanation of the proposed changes.
Certain Lotteries May Qualify for Exemptions
Not all gambling activity would be affected in the same way. The proposal includes provisions allowing the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) to grant exemptions for some lotteries that serve a public interest and are not linked to political parties. These could include subscription-based lottery formats or supplemental games, provided safeguards are introduced to limit exposure to credit use.
New Law Set for April 2026 Implementation
The government’s proposed legislation is expected to be implemented on 1 April 2026, pending final approval. This comes amid a broader national effort to revise gambling laws for better consumer protection.
Earlier this year, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) urged the Ministry of Finance to update the country’s gambling legislation. In April, a report from Spelinspektionen also highlighted deficiencies in the current regulatory system, calling for stronger measures to close existing loopholes, especially those affecting online gambling.
With this proposed ban on credit gambling, Sweden continues its trajectory toward tighter oversight and enhanced player protection in both digital and retail gambling environments.
Source: Sweden Aims to Strengthen Gambling Credit Ban with Broader Restrictions, LCB.org, June 16, 2025.