Swedish Gambling Authority Review

The high level of development in Sweden largely depends on discipline and strict regulation of all spheres. Taking into account the healthy competition and market economy, the government pursued a conservative policy regarding gambling for decades. In 2019, a decision was made to liquidate the state monopoly in order to effectively manage gambling and influence the operators of gaming portals.

The governing body, the Swedish Gambling Authority or Spelinspektionen, was established in 1997. This establishment monitors the legality of the iGaming industry and the safety of players in accordance with the Swedish Gambling Act, etc. Our research indicates that the SGA also controls the activities of platforms that offer sports betting, any types of gambling, and lotteries.

Benefits of the SGA License

Obtaining a Swedish license brings many pros to the owner, the main ones being:

• Prestige of the company: Considering the rigor of the licensor and the operator’s careful attitude to the online gambling market, obtaining an SGA license indicates the operator’s seriousness.
• Profitability: Work in the Swedish market brings significant profits because, despite the small population of a little more than 10 million people, most residents choose gambling as a hobby. This means that even with a high cost of SEK 400,000, you have a good chance of making money by providing casino services.
• Various discounts in case of the symbiosis of bookmaker office and online casino: According to the legislative norms of this country, bets on sports and games in online casinos are not combined in one document. But you will get a good discount if you want to open a BC after a site with online pokies.
• High level of security: Casino license holders undertake to maintain a safe gaming environment, take full responsibility in the fight against gambling, and guarantee the confidentiality of user information.

Security of Licensed SGA Casinos

As we have already mentioned, this jurisdiction’s gaming license means supporting high standards of games for money. This includes regular testing of RNG, fairness of results, protection of users, and exclusion of fraudulent activities on the site. Naturally, our experts do not recommend unquestioningly trusting portals licensed by the Gambling Commission. Be sure to check other factors: RNG certificates, availability of popular payment systems, and games of reliable brands.

It should be added that Swedish casinos are obliged to observe strict work algorithms, which are regularly tested, and portals often receive fabulous fines. Before joining the fight for active casino players, operators undergo rigorous testing. According to our data, the Gambling Commission exercises strict control to improve the quality of online gambling in the territory of its country. Based on the analysis of statistical information, operators received fines of 120 million Swedish crowns or more than 17 million Australian dollars in 2019 alone.

Process of Obtaining a License in SGA

Analysts of our project conducted their research and found that obtaining an SGA license takes a lot of time. Preference is given to operators with extensive experience in the iGaming industry and companies that are exclusively engaged in the gambling business. In general, the procedure for obtaining is divided into stages:

1. Preparatory stage: those wishing to obtain a casino license register a company on the territory of Sweden and provide a detailed business plan and policy.
2. Appointment of personnel: to obtain a Swedish permit in the country or abroad, in the European Union, or outside the borders of the European Economic Area (EEA), you need to appoint a managing director or a representative from Sweden.
3. Submission of an application to the Swedish Gambling Authority: accompanied by the attachment of the necessary package of documents that the licensor will offer you. This also includes the stage of answers to questions of the gaming commission, based on which a verdict is made.
4. Issuing a license and starting an online casino activity: The final stage involves obtaining license documentation for one hour, opening several bank accounts, and starting the portal.

Regulations on Licensed SGA Casinos

For licensed casinos to receive guaranteed profits and not be subject to the sanctions of the Gambling Commission, they must follow the following provisions:

• Availability of certification: Software providers must have certificates from independent auditors and the SGA itself.
• Language: Users must access the money games and the brand’s terms and conditions page in their native language.
• Currency support: A locally licensed casino accepts SEK and supports EUR for players’ convenience.
• Hiring of local personnel: To obtain the license documentation, the operator undertakes to hire a physical representative from Sweden, who has the authority of the license holder to communicate with the controlling authorities.
• Hosting of servers: Swedish license holders are obliged to install online casino gaming systems and servers on the territory of this country. However, there are alternative and individual solutions for operators outside the EEA.

Moreover, our experts want to highlight separately the provisions of responsible gambling, which Sweden treats with all rigor. To protect their residents from uncontrolled gambling and large monetary losses, legislative bodies force operators to monitor user activity. Owner companies undertake to intervene and control gambling, offering effective methods of struggle:

• Consultations
• Social and medical programs
• Limiting costs and deposits
• Other tools to reduce gambling addiction

Contact Information

Our specialists advise visiting https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/ to learn more about the jurisdiction’s regulations. We also leave SGA contacts:

• E-mail: [email protected]
• Telephone: +46 (0)152-650 100

The gambling commission’s headquarters is located at Finningevägen 54 B, P.O. Box 199, 645 23 Strängnäs.