Spelinspektionen Reports Swedish Gambling Turnover Rises 5.1% in Q2 2026

Sweden’s licensed gambling market continued to expand in the second quarter of 2026, with total gambling turnover reaching approximately SEK7.38 billion. According to figures published by Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority, the result represented a 5.1% increase compared with the same quarter in 2025. The regulator defines turnover as players’ stakes minus winnings paid out, meaning the figure reflects net turnover rather than the total value of bets placed.

The latest figures point to continued growth across the regulated Swedish gambling sector, particularly in commercial online gaming and betting. At the same time, the data underline the importance of consumer protection and market oversight as authorities continue to monitor self-exclusion through Spelpaus and the availability of gambling services without a Swedish licence.

Commercial online gambling remains the largest segment

Commercial online gambling and betting remained by far the largest part of the licensed market during Q2. The segment generated approximately SEK4.96 billion in turnover, representing an increase of just over 7% from SEK4.63 billion in Q2 2025.

The figures cover commercial online gambling such as online casino activity as well as betting. The continued increase indicates that digitally delivered gambling remains central to the Swedish market structure several years after the country's licensing framework was introduced.

The second-largest category was state-run lotteries and value machine gaming, which produced approximately SEK1.43 billion. That represented a relatively stable result compared with the SEK1.423 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

Public-benefit lotteries also remained broadly stable at approximately SEK863 million. Public-benefit hall bingo generated around SEK51 million during the quarter, matching the level reported for Q2 2025.

Land-based commercial gambling recorded a more visible year-on-year increase. The category, which includes restaurant casino activity, generated approximately SEK73 million compared with SEK64 million one year earlier. That equates to an increase of almost 13%.

Casino Cosmopol remains absent from the statistics

The Q2 2026 figures also confirm the end of state-operated land-based casino gambling in Sweden. State casino turnover was recorded at zero because Svenska Spel no longer operates Casino Cosmopol venues.

Svenska Spel permanently closed its remaining Casino Cosmopol venue in Stockholm in April 2025 following the Riksdag's decision to phase out state-owned land-based casinos. The company subsequently continued the process of winding down its physical casino operations.

This means that the Swedish gambling market has become increasingly concentrated around online gambling, betting, lotteries and other permitted categories rather than traditional state-run casinos.

For businesses monitoring the structure of the Swedish gambling market, the development is significant because it demonstrates how regulatory decisions can materially change the composition of licensed turnover even when the broader market continues to grow.

Spelpaus registrations decline slightly

Alongside the turnover figures, Spelinspektionen reported developments in the national self-exclusion system Spelpaus. Just under 138,000 people were registered as self-excluded at the end of Q2 2026.

The figure represented a 0.7% decline compared with the previous quarter. Despite the modest reduction, the number of people using the system remains substantial and underlines the continuing role of self-exclusion as part of Sweden's consumer protection framework.

Spelpaus allows individuals to exclude themselves from licensed gambling that requires registration. Licensed operators must check the national self-exclusion register before allowing affected customers to register or play. They must also take the register into account when conducting direct marketing.

The system covers several forms of licensed gambling, including online casino, betting, online bingo and certain lottery products. The Swedish Gambling Authority also sets technical requirements for operators connecting their systems to Spelpaus.

The regulatory importance of the system extends beyond the registration process. A self-exclusion also restricts direct marketing to an individual during the exclusion period, creating an additional compliance obligation for licensed operators.

Unlicensed websites remain a regulatory challenge

The growth of the licensed gambling market does not mean that all gambling activity takes place within the Swedish licensing system. Spelinspektionen's latest channelisation research indicates that the estimated channelisation rate was 84% in 2025 compared with 85% in 2024 and 86% in 2023.

The authority stresses that channelisation figures are estimates and relate to the competitive part of the market. They are intended to measure the share of gambling taking place with operators holding a Swedish licence rather than describing every form of gambling activity in the country.

Spelinspektionen also identified 2,186 websites without a Swedish licence up to 30 April 2026. Of those, 976 were classified as online casino sites while 800 combined online casino and betting. The authority also identified 283 websites where the gambling category was not specified, 113 sites associated with skin betting, six betting-only sites and eight classified under other categories.

Importantly, the existence of a website without a Swedish licence does not by itself mean that every instance of gambling through that site is illegal under Swedish law. Spelinspektionen distinguishes between gambling outside the Swedish licensing system and gambling that is legally targeted at Swedish consumers without the necessary licence.

The authority assesses factors such as whether a service is directed toward Swedish consumers. Marketing activity, Swedish-language content, Swedish payment options and other market-specific features can form part of that assessment.

Affiliate marketing and influencers remain areas of scrutiny

Spelinspektionen has continued to focus on the way unlicensed gambling services can reach Swedish consumers. Its regulatory work has identified affiliate websites, comparison services, social media promotion and influencer activity as mechanisms that can direct traffic toward gambling sites outside the Swedish licensing framework.

The authority's broader analysis found that affiliate sites can function as intermediaries by directing users toward gambling operators. Social media and targeted advertising have also been identified as channels through which unlicensed services can seek visibility among Swedish audiences.

Spelinspektionen has separately taken enforcement action against parties considered to be promoting unlicensed gambling. Its 2026 updates show that regulatory action can involve websites, influencers, payment intermediaries and other parties depending on the circumstances of each case.

The authority has also emphasized that its analysis of the unlicensed market remains ongoing because websites can change domains, business models and methods of reaching consumers. This makes continuous monitoring an important part of maintaining the effectiveness of the Swedish regulatory framework.

What the Q2 figures mean for Sweden's gambling market

The Q2 2026 figures present a market that is growing while also undergoing structural change. Total turnover increased by 5.1% year on year, led by commercial online gambling and betting. Land-based commercial gambling also recorded growth, while state casino activity has disappeared following the closure of Casino Cosmopol.

At the same time, the latest Spelpaus data show that responsible gambling measures remain a significant part of the regulatory environment. The slight quarter-on-quarter decline in self-exclusions does not remove the importance of the system, particularly as licensed operators are legally required to integrate self-exclusion checks into their customer processes.

The channelisation figures add another layer to the picture. Although the majority of gambling activity within the relevant competitive market is estimated to occur through licensed operators, the 84% figure for 2025 indicates that a meaningful proportion remains outside the Swedish licensing framework.

For operators and other businesses active in Sweden, the regulatory direction is therefore clear. Market growth is being accompanied by continued scrutiny of consumer protection, responsible gambling, marketing practices and access to unlicensed services.

Conclusion

Sweden's gambling market entered the second half of 2026 with a stronger turnover position than a year earlier, but the latest figures show that growth is only one part of the regulatory story. The SEK7.38 billion recorded in Q2 confirms the resilience of the licensed sector, with online gambling and betting remaining the main drivers of activity.

The continued development of Spelpaus, the disappearance of state casino turnover and the authorities' attention to websites operating without Swedish licences illustrate how the market is evolving around a combination of commercial demand and regulatory controls.

The most important issue for the sector is likely to be maintaining that balance. A growing licensed market provides substantial economic activity, but effective regulation depends on ensuring that consumer protection measures remain credible and that the boundaries of lawful gambling and promotion are properly understood. With Spelinspektionen continuing its supervisory work, the Swedish market is likely to remain closely watched as operators, affiliates and other industry participants adapt to an increasingly detailed compliance environment.

FAQs

What was Sweden's gambling turnover in Q2 2026?
Sweden's licensed gambling operators recorded total turnover of approximately SEK7.38 billion in Q2 2026, representing a 5.1% increase compared with Q2 2025.

What does Spelinspektionen mean by gambling turnover?
Spelinspektionen defines turnover as players' stakes minus winnings paid out. The measure therefore represents net gambling turnover rather than the total amount wagered.

Which gambling segment was largest in Q2 2026?
Commercial online gambling and betting was the largest segment, producing approximately SEK4.96 billion in turnover during the quarter.

How much did commercial online gambling and betting grow?
Commercial online gambling and betting increased by just over 7% year on year from approximately SEK4.63 billion in Q2 2025 to SEK4.96 billion in Q2 2026.

How many people were registered with Spelpaus at the end of Q2 2026?
Just under 138,000 people were registered as self-excluded through Spelpaus at the end of Q2 2026, representing a 0.7% decline from the previous quarter.

What is Spelpaus?
Spelpaus is Sweden's national self-exclusion system. It allows eligible individuals to exclude themselves from licensed gambling that requires registration and requires licensed operators to perform checks against the register.

Is every gambling website without a Swedish licence illegal?
No. Swedish regulation distinguishes between gambling that takes place outside the licensing system and gambling that is legally considered to target Swedish consumers without the required licence. Spelinspektionen assesses factors including market targeting and promotional activity.

How many websites without a Swedish licence were identified by Spelinspektionen?
Spelinspektionen reported that 2,186 websites without a Swedish licence had been identified through 30 April 2026. The authority classified most of these as online casino or combined casino and betting websites.

Why did state casino turnover remain at zero?
State casino turnover was zero because Svenska Spel's final Casino Cosmopol venue in Stockholm closed in April 2025 following the decision to phase out state-owned land-based casinos.

What was Sweden's channelisation rate in 2025?
Spelinspektionen estimated the channelisation rate for the competitive gambling market at 84% in 2025, compared with 85% in 2024 and 86% in 2023.