The Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) is responsible for the safety, reliability as well as legality of the Swedish gaming and gambling market. The SGA is also responsible for the issuing of permits for lotteries and has the overall responsibility for control and supervision of lottery and gambling activities in Sweden.
The SGA also aims at providing consumers with the right tools for fair gaming in a bid to create a more balanced and transparent gaming market, whilst reducing any gambling harm.
Swedish Gambling Authority Contact Details
If you would like to get in touch with the Swedish gambling authority or have a query about acquiring a Sweden gambling license, you can get in touch with the authority as follows:
Official name
Spelinspektionen
Founded
1999
Headquarters
P.O.Box 199, 645 23 Strängnäs, Sweden
Jurisdiction
Sweden
Parent department
Ministry of Finance
Website
www.spelinspektionen.se
History of the Swedish Gambling Authority
The Swedish Gambling Authority, also known as Spelinspektionen, was established in 1999. All the way up until 2019, the government of Sweden had a virtual monopoly on all forms of casinos based in the country.
Until then, state-owned Svenska Spel had the official power to operate Swedish online casinos and offer various gambling games and sports betting. Because of this, many online gambling sites were acting illegally, with many companies openly advertising to Swedish players.
With the enactment of the 2019 Swedish Act, there were many changes. New laws came into force to tackle these issues. For example, SGA casino sites must include Terms and Conditions on the welcome bonus offer, helping players make an informed decision without being sent on a wild goose chase.
Why Play at SGA-Licensed Online Casinos?
Players looking to sign up for an account at a casino Spelinspektionen can benefit from safe, reliable and legal gambling options. Players can trust that the games on offer are going to be fair and that their data-sensitive information is protected.
Moreover, sites with an online casino license Sweden provide welcome casino bonuses with fair terms and conditions. Unlike casinos by some other gambling authorities, you don’t have to look too hard to find the most significant terms.
Swedish gambling authority licensed casinos also accept a diverse number of payment methods, with some methods such as Trustly, allowing you to skip the registration process entirely. A large majority of software game developers have a licence to operate and offer their services to players based in Sweden.
How to Choose the Best SGA Casino
Choosing the best online casino with a SGA gambling licence can be a daunting task for both beginners and experienced players, we recommend following the below steps.
1
Select a casino
Browse through the list of recommended Swedish Gambling Authority casino sites listed above.
2
Read reviews
Pick a few casinos licensed by the SGA and read insightful reviews.
3
Read the terms
Take the time to read the terms and conditions of the casino of your choice.
4
Register and deposit
If all checks out, you are welcome to register for an account and make a deposit.
5
Start playing
That’s it! You can now start spinning and betting.
Player Protection in Sweden-Licensed Casinos
SGA casinos must abide by the Swedish Gambling Act, which states that all licence holders must protect their players from any excessive gambling and follow up in order to help players reduce their gambling. This means that all players should be closely monitored, and if any casinos with an SGA license notice a pattern of gambling harm, they should be taking action.
What’s more, casino players can only opt for one welcome bonus offer, which is the only bonus offer available. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to gamble. These online casinos are only allowed to provide a welcome bonus offer, so there are no promotions available at the players’ disposal once this offer has been snapped up.
As part of the casino’s licensing agreement, they are obliged to implement player protection measures. These include deposit, loss and wager limits, self-assessments, reality checks, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion.
Online casino sites with an SGA licence might also, in the future, have access to personal data about players, such as their finances and health. This would lead to more enhanced player protection, by limiting excessive gambling.
Casino Dispute Resolution Under the SGA
According to the Swedish Gambling Act, all SGA-licensed online casinos must have the right mechanism in place to address player complaints. If a player has a complaint, the customer support team should be able to handle it.
If the complaint does not result in player satisfaction, then they have the right to file a complaint with the Swedish Gambling Authority. The SGA does not take sides but rather acts as an intermediary between the casino and the player.
The Complaints Unit of the SGA will then investigate the complaint and make a decision based on any evidence presented to it. If once again, the player is not satisfied with the decision, they can proceed to appeal it in the Administrative Court.
How to Check a Casino for the SGA Licence
If you are opting for an SGA casino not recommended here at Mr. Gamble, we always recommend that you verify the validity of the licence available at your chosen operator. Here is a step-by-step process on how to do so:
Check for the regulator logo in the footer: Scroll down to the footer and look for the logo of the SGA.
Verify the logo: The SGA logo should be clickable, which in turn opens up the official website of the gambling authority.
Cross-check with the official authority: Input the licence number displayed on your chosen casino site and verify the licence.
Casino Rules and Regulations by the SGA
The Swedish Gambling Authority outlines a list of rules and regulations which licensed online casinos must follow. These regulations include stringent player protection measures, such as cooling-off periods, self-exclusion options, and deposit limits.
The 1999 Casinos Act states that online casinos must meet their obligations in curbing money laundering and terrorist financing. They must also have a legally registered entity operating within Sweden.
The casino must also implement robust age verification measures to prevent underage gambling. In addition to responsible gambling measures, the player’s data and financial information must be protected at all costs via encryption technology.
In addition to this, all the best casinos in Sweden must have a mechanism in place to handle and address any player complaints. If a player has a complaint, they must first get in touch with the customer support team, after which, they can file a complaint with the Swedish Gambling Authority.
Gambling Licence Types Offered by the SGA
The Swedish Gambling Authority offers the following types of online gambling licences:
Commercial online gaming licence: This licence is required for online gambling sites that offer casino games, such as online slots, RNG casino games and live casino games.
Betting licence: This licence is required for gambling operators that offer fixed odds betting.
Combined online gaming and betting licence: This licence is required for online gambling operators that offer both casino games and fixed odds betting.
SGA Requirements
To obtain any online gambling licence from the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA), applicants must meet a number of requirements. These requirements entail accreditation of bodies and technical requirements for inspection, testing and the certification of gambling service providers.
Additionally, all applicants must get in touch with an accredited body for inspection, ERP system, lot-drawing equipment and certification as per the Gambling Act.
How to Get a Gambling Licence From the Swedish Gambling Authority
Applicants interested in acquiring a gambling licence from the Swedish Gambling Authority must follow the below steps:
Follow the instructions: Before applying, all casino owners must follow and understand all the instructions listed on the Spelinspektionen website.
Documentation: All documentation that forms part of the application must be in the Swedish language or translated into Swedish. It is up to the applicant to verify that all translations are correct.
Submit the application: Once the application has been completed, it must be submitted via the Swedish Gambling Authority’s web service.
Registration number: All applications will receive a registration number. You will need this registration number when contacting the SGA.
Application fee: The application process will not kick off until the application fee has been paid.
SGA Gambling Licence Cost
The cost of obtaining a gambling licence from the Swedish Gambling Authority is SEK 400,000 for commercial online gaming and betting licences. The fee for combined online gaming and betting licences stands at SEK 700,000.
The renewal fee for the licence is SEK 300,000 per annum, while the fee for changing the licence type is SEK 150,000.
On top of the licensing fees, all SGA online casino sites must pay an 18% tax rate on all income. The only key exception is for non-profit activities, which are not subject to any taxation.
FAQ
What’s the best SGA casino?
Our team at Mr. Gamble has compiled a list of the best online casinos with an SGA licence. We recommend you explore this list and take the time to read our casino reviews so you can pick the right gambling site for you.
Are the Swedish Gambling Authority licensed casinos safe?
Yes. The Swedish Gambling Authority makes sure that all licensed operators meet its high standards when it comes to safety and reliability. All casinos must be transparent and offer fair gaming.
How long does it take to obtain the SGA licence?
The time it takes to obtain a gambling licence from the Swedish Gambling Authority depends on the type of licence you are trying to obtain. It can take between 6 and 12 weeks.
Is gambling with crypto allowed with an SGA licence?
The SGA does not have any specific laws relating to gambling with crypto. Currently, it does not accept cryptocurrencies.
Is the SGA licence trustworthy?
Yes. The Swedish Gambling Authority is one of the most notable regulatory authorities in the world. It monitors the online gambling market in Sweden and makes sure that all licensed operators act in a responsible manner.
Alina is Mr. Gamble's Content Creator with strong expertise in iGaming. With a history of working on the casino operator side and an ethical journalistic approach to writing, Alina publishes truthful and accurate content relevant to our readers...
