The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has announced that a ban on gambling with credit is being proposed to take effect on April 1, 2026. The measure would apply to all licensed gambling operators in Sweden.
Under the proposal, operators and agents would be prohibited from offering or facilitating gambling financed through credit. This includes not only direct credit provided by operators, but also credit extended through third parties such as payment service providers or credit institutions. The aim is to ensure that individuals cannot gamble using borrowed funds, regardless of the channel through which the credit is issued.
The Authority emphasized that the regulation would cover both online and land-based gambling, making it applicable across the licensed sector. Licensed operators would be responsible for ensuring compliance and preventing customers from using credit as a payment method.
According to Spelinspektionen, the initiative responds to concerns about consumer protection and the financial risks associated with gambling on credit. The proposal has been submitted for legislative review, with the intended implementation date set for April 2026, giving operators and stakeholders time to adapt systems and procedures before enforcement.
If adopted, the ban would align Sweden with several other European jurisdictions that restrict or prohibit gambling on credit, reflecting a broader regulatory trend to strengthen responsible gambling measures.
The Gambling Authority will continue to provide updates as the legislative process advances toward the proposed entry into force.
The regulator has recently banned Bitx Operations and Ryker from operating in Sweden for targeting Swedish players without a valid licence
