Sweden Casino Bonuses

Welcome Bonus

As a responsible gambling measure, the Spelinspektionen has banned almost all types of casino bonuses that players typically redeem online. Currently, casino operators licensed in Sweden can offer their members only a single Welcome Bonus, which is a one-time promotion available exclusively to newly registered players.

Not only can casino players claim just one bonus when they open a new account, but there was also a proposal to cap the maximum redeemable bonus at SEK100 (less than €10). Although this lower limit was close to being implemented by the Swedish Gambling Authority, the proposal was ultimately discarded. Nevertheless, online casinos in Sweden still may not offer more than one bonus to new customers.

While some virtual casinos have chosen to remove all bonus offers from their Swedish websites, others still provide Welcome Bonuses that comply with the rules set by the Spelinspektionen. These offers usually include a match deposit bonus, which can be claimed only on a player’s first deposit at the respective casino.

Like many other match bonuses, the promotions offered by Swedish online casinos generally require players to wager their bonus amount a certain number of times before the funds can be withdrawn.

Sweden Puts End to Gambling Monopoly Due to Pressure Applied by the EU

Between 2002 and 2018, the iGaming industry in Sweden underwent several changes, the most recent of which came in 2019. This latest overhaul liberalized the online gambling scene, finally allowing private companies to apply for licenses and offer online casino services to players based in Sweden.

The main reason the Swedish gambling laws were amended to make the industry more liberal was pressure from the European Union. Because Sweden is part of the EU, it must comply with union-wide legislation. After the Gambling Act was amended in 2019, private companies were finally permitted to apply for online casino and online betting licenses from the local regulatory authority.

Despite the 2019 liberalization, the state-owned Svenska Spel still holds a monopoly over lottery and lottery-like games, online lottery, land-based and online bingo, poker rooms and online poker, as well as brick-and-mortar casinos.

Currently, under the applicable laws, Swedish players are allowed to play online only at virtual casinos that have been licensed by the Spelinspektionen. That said, players who gamble at unlicensed web-based casinos are not prosecuted or penalized. However, unregulated brands that accept Swedish players are legally responsible for their actions and may face legal consequences.

Following the 2019 changes to the Gambling Act, Swedish Internet service providers (ISPs) are required to block access to unlicensed online casinos and betting websites. Operators that have not obtained a license from the Spelinspektionen are also prohibited from promoting their services in the Swedish market.

Sweden Imposes Strict Deposit and Bonus Limits to Online Operators

Although the iGaming sector was liberalized in 2019, Swedish authorities have since taken additional steps to curb gambling-related harm. Some argue that the regulator has been overly harsh with online casino players, often pushing them to look for loopholes and play on unlicensed gaming and betting websites. In 2020, Sweden introduced a slot-stakes cap and a deposit limit of SEK5,000 per week (€470). The government justified these limits as a measure to combat the heightened risk of gambling problems during the pandemic. While the limits expired in November 2021, a new weekly deposit cap was proposed at the beginning of 2022.

Under the latest proposal, Swedes would have been restricted to a SEK4,000 weekly deposit cap. In addition, a lower limit on online casino bonuses was suggested, allowing licensed operators to offer no more than SEK100 as a Welcome Bonus. Fortunately, just before these new limits were set to take effect, the Swedish government decided to scrap them. Although local authorities cite a players’ protection agenda as justification for strict deposit and bonus limits, such regulations often drive many Swedes toward offshore, unlicensed gambling sites.

In June 2022, the Swedish Gaming Authority (Spelinspektionen) published data from its annual survey examining why Swedish players choose to gamble illegally online. About 32% of respondents who gambled illegally cited bonus limitations as their primary reason. Meanwhile, self-exclusion from licensed operators and better odds or products at unlicensed websites were cited by 26% and 25% of respondents, respectively.

Given the number of Swedish players who still prefer offshore websites, there is clearly much work to be done to improve gambling regulations in Sweden.