Thomas Andrei
Mentor
Last updated: 25 September 2024

Regulatory changes, combined with market trends and increased player demand for licensed and reputable online casinos, set the stage for dynamic changes in the Swedish gambling sector in 2024.

As Sweden continues to refine how it regulates the gambling industry, this year is set to bring new opportunities and challenges on both sides of the supply and demand equation.
The following article will outline the main events that happened in Sweden's gambling market, provife insihgts into some industry trends, and show the implications of what all this means for players in terms of licensed and safe gaming environments.

We will take a closer look at statistical data provided by Spelinspektionen, Sweden's Gambling Authority, and give you an in-depth review of what one can expect in the future of the Swedish gambling sector.

swedens gambling sector set for a dynamic 2024
Sweden's 2024 gambling sector: regulatory changes, market trends, and insights

A Year of Change: Key Developments in Sweden's Gambling Regulations

The Swedish gambling market has gone through a number of regulatory changes in the last couple of years.

The introductions of the Swedish Gambling Act in 2019 marked a pivotal moment, introducing a licensing system and robust consumer protections. Further regulatory changes are foreseen for 2024, focusing on strengthened controls related to unlicensed operators and responsible gambling measures.
One of the key areas of focus is the push for tighter control over online casinos, with full licensing, and very high standards of player protection for all operators in the market.

For players in search of secure, trusted platforms, the Swedish section featured on online-gambling.com offers valuable guidance on reputable online casinos operating within the legal framework. By prioritizing licensed operators, Swedish players can enjoy a safe and regulated gambling experience.

Impact on Player Behaviour

With stricter regulations, player behaviour takes a whole new turn. For instance, Swedish players have become more conscious about selecting licensed operators since unlicensed gambling comes with several risks.

According to reports, Spelinspektionen has received an increasing number of players resorting to self-exclusion tools provided by Spelpaus, a system that gives you the option to block access to online gambling portals for a certain period of time.

online gambling habits by demographics
How often do you play on an online gambling site where you can win money? Breakdown by gender and age

In 2023, the number of users active on Spelpaus increased by 15%, which reflects a development toward responsible gambling.

Still, for the year 2024, there would be much better control over responsible gambling due to the following regulations, through which more instruments are provided for the players to keep a better control of their habits.

Statistics and Trends Shaping the Market

Market Growth: Online casinos are foreseen to make an income near half of that sum in 2022, which would add up to around SEK 26 billion in the Swedish gambling market. Based on a forecast for 2024, online gambling will keep leading the sector due to innovations in mobile gaming and live casino offerings.

swedish gambling revenue breakdown
Net revenue (players' stakes - minus - winnings) on the Swedish licensed gambling market, by license type, in million SEK.

Licensed Operators: The Swedish Gambling Authority has currently issued more than 90 licenses for the Swedish market. With new regulations in place, the number of licenses to be issued may be contained to a few in order to keep the industry tighter under the government's belt.
Player Preferences: Online casinos and sports betting remain the most popular forms of gambling for players in Sweden during 2023. Within that, the online casino has grown more and is expected to continue through 2024, especially when talking about licensed sites that have earned a reputation for safety and security.

Challenges Facing Sweden's Gambling Sector

Despite its positive outlook, the Swedish gambling market also expects some challenges this year. The main and quite serious problem in this regard is unlicensed gambling platforms, with their refusal to play by the rules by circumventing this regulatory framework and exposing players to serious perils.

According to the report entitled The State Has Gambled Away Control Over Online Casinos by SiGMA World, unlicensed operators have indeed become cunningly adept at soliciting Swedish players, defeating efforts toward a regulated, safe market.
To curb this, the Swedish government is looking into imposing even more stringent penalties against operators who run businesses without licenses, aside from undertaking more public awareness about risks with illegal online gambling platforms.

Opportunities for Operators and Players

But in this changing landscape, there are several opportunities for the licensed operators. The more regulators stiffen up their laws, the more players will trust them, and this in turn will be reflected in market share. The Swedish Gambling Authority has already clearly shown the support it will give to its license holders in this highly competitive environment.
In turn, players also benefit from these changes. Since attention has shifted to consumer protection, security for Swedish players is expected to improve, responsible gambling tools are enhanced, and fair play with reliable payouts are ensured through respectable platforms. Moreover, according to industry reports, the investment of many operators in technological innovations such as AI-powered gaming platforms continues to improve the user experience in 2024.

revenue breakdown of swedish gambling operators 2023
Swedish gambling regulations boost trust, player safety, and technological innovation

The Future of Technology in Swedish Gambling

Technology is at the heart of making the future for Sweden's gambling industry. From casinos that offer mobile-first to innovative live gaming, the whole gaming sphere has picked up speed to satisfy tech-savvy players. In 2024, Swedish players can definitely expect more advanced features, including real-time sports betting and immersive live casino experiences.
Besides this, the adoption of AI and machine learning is growing-highly in areas such as customer support and fraud prevention. All of these innovations are likely to further enhance the overall safety and reliability of online casinos, making it easier for players to enjoy seamless gaming experiences.

Comparison of Sweden's Gambling Market with Global Trends

However, Sweden's gambling market is in many ways a special case, and it reflects part of the trend occurring in many countries around the globe of stricter regulations and further consumer protection. Similar significant changes are taking place around the world in countries like Canada regarding their laws on gambling. For example, the legal landscape for online gambling in Canada is changing, with new legislation aimed at tackling unregulated gambling and the promotion of licensed operators.
Regulation in Sweden can therefore act as something of a beacon to other countries that aspire to such a vision for their respective markets-to be player-friendly yet ensure accountability among operators.

Summary and Outlook for 2024

In all, 2024 promises to be a year of great change for Sweden's gambling industry.

With new legislation looming, the emphasis is likely to be on ensuring that all operators gain licenses and that players use safe and reputable platforms. As more and more players become aware of the potential perils associated with unlicensed gaming, licensed online casinos are bound to become more popular.
That's why online-gambling.com has put together a Swedish section that is really helpful for players to take their way through this evolving landscape and find trustworthy platforms. With the market continuing to grow and change over time, operators and players alike have much to benefit from the oncoming changes.
In the future, Sweden's gambling sector is going towards more regulation, responsibility, and a player-centric approach. And with advances in technology, new regulations, and an increased emphasis on consumer protection, the stage is set for a dynamic 2024. Get ready for a year of innovation and opportunity by players and operators alike.

 
Published: 25 September 2024 09:37