Although Sweden is now one of the world’s leaders in the iGaming industry, this Nordic nation had gone through an extended period of being a grey market until recently. This article will guide you through the country's now liberalised online market, popular payment methods, as well as how to choose the best Sweden betting sites available.
- Online Betting in Sweden Explained
- Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Sweden
- Is Online Betting Legal in Sweden?
- Choosing a Good Online Swedish Bookmaker
- Popular Payment Methods for Swedish Bettors
- Live Betting in Sweden
- How to Bet Online in Sweden
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
- Best Sweden Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say:
Online Betting in Sweden Explained
Sweden was one of the first countries in the European Union to recognise the potential of online gambling, and passed legislation to address the emerging industry in 2001. In this way, they succeeded in regulating online casinos earlier than most other nations.
With a population of little over 10 million, Sweden’s online betting market is growing exponentially due to the state's monopoly on land-based betting. In fact, only six land-based casinos are present in all of Sweden, all of which are owned and run by the Swedish government.
The influx of internationally approved betting sites in Sweden today did not simply arrive on a silver platter, however. In 2008, the Swedish government blocked all foreign betting sites to enforce its monopoly on both land-based and online betting markets.
However, after immense pressure from the EU, new legislation in 2019 was passed, allowing authorised bookmakers to operate across the nation.
As a result, licences have already been issued to over 60 online betting sites, offering top-notch services to Swedish nationals. With a huge gap in the market needing to be filled, some of the best casino betting sites have opened up.
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#1
 LeoVegas
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Key terms - New players only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | LeoSafePlay.com | Play responsibly! Full T&Cs apply BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#2
 bet365
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ - Offer for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Registration Required. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#3
 William Hill
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#4
Betsson
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Please note: Betsson welcome offer not available for UK residents. This offer is only eligible to new customers who haven't used a sports welcome offer of Betsson before. Players will need to verify their age before being able to register an account. Bonus amount must be wagered 10x at a minimum odds of 1.50. System bets do not count towards wagering. Wagering requirements must be met within 30 days for bonus money to become real money. Bonus money which has not been converted to real money after 30 days will be forfeited. The minimum deposit for the sport welcome bonus is €10. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#5
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#6
 Mr Green
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
T&Cs apply. New players only. Qualifying bet(s) must have minimum odds of 3/1 and must be settled before triggering free bet. Free Bet must be used on an accumulator with 3 or more selections. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Is Online Betting Legal in Sweden?
Online betting in Sweden is legal despite the government monopolising the betting industry in the country – a result of the state trying to prevent illegal betting activities from occurring. Things did not change until 2013, when the European Union ruled that the blacklisting of EU-based bookmakers was illegal and against EU trade regulations. Therefore, the Swedish government cannot restrict its citizens or block foreign bookmakers from accepting Swedish customers.
Since 2013, Swedish citizens have continued to bet with online foreign bookmakers while enjoying their excellent services due to the EU's ruling. In 2018, the Swedish government created the ‘Spellag SFS 2018:1138’ policy, clearing up the landscape for online gambling in the country.
The policy, which took effect on the 1st of January 2019, strengthened all regulations on unlicensed betting sites operating in Sweden. Betting sites now had to acquire a Swedish license from the Swedish Gambling Authority, if they don’t, sites will be blocked entirely from the market.
The Swedish Gambling Authority
The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) is in charge of registering and accepting new operators and ensuring that these bookies are keeping up to scratch with the law. They are also tasked with reducing unlicensed betting sites and coming up with ways to stop these bookies from entering the market in the future.
Swedish Gambling Tax
The Swedish gambling tax law is extremely simple for the punters, you don’t have to pay a dime. This is not the same for the operator, who must pay, for licenses, general tax, and other fees to comply, and run their Swedish betting sites.
These include an 18% tax rate on gross gambling revenue, paid on one taxation period, which is one month in Sweden. Applying and owning a license also comes with a fixed fee, paid once. The fee varies depending on what the operator needs. The cheapest license is a licence for cash / token gambling machines at 2,800 SEK (£223) per venue. The most expensive is a combined licence of online betting and gambling at 700,000 SEK (£55,689).
Finally there is an annual supervisory fee, this fee is paid out to the SGA for their work ensuring that all operators are working within the law. The fee varies depending on a bookmakers annual gross gambling revenue. Starting at 30,000 SEK (£2,386) reaching 500,000 SEK (£39,778).
Choosing a Good Online Swedish Bookmaker
Here are a few factors that you should keep in mind when choosing a Swedish betting site:
- Make sure that the site you would like to register with is legitimate and holds the appropriate credentials. This is the first crucial step - not only for Swedish punters, but also for those betting anywhere in the world. We’ve made this easy for you with our list of the top bookies available in Sweden above.
- For the ideal gambling experience, especially if you are a foreigner, you should consider a bookmaker with similar features to any top UK bookmaker. This is because the UK betting industry is considered to be the standard to which all operators anywhere should aspire. With a standard UK bookie, you are assured of 24-hour customer service, fraud protection, data protection, and general safety, as well as smooth wagering and transparency.
- Wagering with an online Swedish bookie offers you two currency options, as almost all Sweden betting sites accept euros, with some also accepting both the pound and the Swedish krona. It is important to consider your currency options carefully so as not to end up paying for exchange rate fees every time you make a deposit to your bookmaker.
- Look out for the bookie offering the most competitive betting odds on the market - this is essential if you want to get the best bang for your buck, so performing the necessary odds comparison is not a bad idea. Also bear in mind that while in the odds are displayed in a fractional format in the UK, in Sweden they are displayed in decimals.
Check beforehand to see whether your chosen bookmaker allows the conversion of decimals to fractional odds for your convenience while betting.
- All bookies listed on this page offer differing versions of bonuses and promotions, which can give you an even more enjoyable betting experience. Most betting sites in Sweden offer welcome bonuses, free bets, and even cash out options.
Popular Payment Methods for Swedish Bettors
With no official restrictions or illegality when it comes to making online betting site payments, you can fund your online Swedish betting account through various options. Visa and Mastercard are the most used payment services in Sweden, but the prevalence of Trustly in the country also makes it popular, alongside other e-wallet platforms like Skrill, NETELLER, and PayPal.
Almost all online Sweden betting sites accept euros, but a handful of others support the Swedish krona as well. To avoid paying exchange fees, you can set your account to accept either one of these currencies when signing up. Deposits and withdrawals on online Sweden betting sites are free of tax, meaning there are no extra charges on your winnings. Bear in mind that you may be asked to verify your identity when you register or before you initiate a withdrawal. This would involve submitting copies of official documents (such as your driver's licence or your passport and a recent utility bill or bank statement).
Live Betting in Sweden
Live betting is available in Sweden, with top sites such as 888sport and LeoVegas having this feature embedded in its services. However, due to broadcasting rights, events available for livestreaming in the UK may not be available for Swedish punters. It's best to check this before the event in question begins.
How to Bet Online in Sweden
Betting online with Swedish bookmakers is not that different from how wagers are placed in the United Kingdom. There are different rules and regulations in place, but the basic steps involved remain the same. The process involves selecting your preferred bookie, creating an account, depositing funds, placing your bets, and withdrawing your winnings. The most popular sport to wager on in Sweden is football, though handball is also quite popular too.
Just remember that if you are new to the world of online betting, you should stick to simple and comprehensible markets before proceeding to those that are more complex. Check out our articles on various betting strategies as you go along to get some useful tips and pointers.
Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag To Learn More
Australia
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Finland
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
Spain
SA
Ukraine
UK
USA
Best Sweden Betting Sites FAQs
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Yes, online betting in Sweden is legal. The government has issued licences to a lot of foreign and local betting sites which are currently providing services to Swedish customers.
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Almost all online Sweden betting sites accept euros, but a handful of others also support the Swedish krona, the local currency.
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Visa and Mastercard are the most used payment methods in Sweden, but Trustly is also a very popular option, alongside other e-wallet platforms like Skrill, NETELLER, and PayPal.
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No, deposits and withdrawals with online bookies in Sweden are tax-free, so there are no extra charges to pay on your winnings.
ThePuntersPage Final Say:
Although betting in Sweden is not too different from how things work in the United Kingdom, it still important to always read and understand the terms and conditions of any bookmaker you wish to sign up with. This is because that, despite the similarities between the two countries, there might be slight changes in the rules. With several international betting sites operating in Sweden, though, you're bound to find something to your liking. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you pick a site from our list above to get started!
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
