The Swedish government is set to expand the country’s ban on gambling with credit through new legislation.
The Swedish Gambling Act already stops players from using credit to bet with licensed operators but the government believes current regulations aren’t doing enough to prevent the issue.
The current ban has what they call ‘limited scope’ as it only covers credit offered or provided by gambling firms and not other forms.
Sweden Aim To Create ‘Safer And More Sustainable’ Regulated Gambling Market
The government believes the current regulations have created a link between problem gambling and increased debt, leading to some consumers ending up with financial difficulties.
Beyond credit card transactions, licensed operators would no longer be able to process any credit-based funds such as personal loans, deferred payments and overdrafts.
The new legislation will prevent online casinos and gambling agents from wagering with any sort of credit. Firms will be prohibited from accepting bets if they know that the player is financing the bet or wagering with credit in general.
Operators will not be allowed to accept any payment by credit card whether it be in-person or over the internet. The government added that the new measures will be simple and cost effective without the need for new technical equipment – such as signage.
“The measures should be simple and cost-effective, and there is no requirement to acquire new technical equipment – instead, they should use existing technical equipment that enables the blocking of credit cards for gambling without affecting the sale of other goods.”
There could be some exemptions to the rule, such as for subscription lotteries to support public-benefit activities that are non-political – but protective measures will be taken to limit the amount of credit.
If the proposed legislation is approved, it is set to come into effect from 1 April, 2026.
Sweden Tries Again With Gambling Credit Ban After 2024 Failure
Similar proposals were put forward in 2024 but Sweden’s online gambling trade association rejected the terms of the credit ban, urging the government to rethink its framework.
The association suggested that if the government were to proceed, the responsibility to prevent credit card payments should fall on the card issuers rather than operators.
They argued the restrictions on licensed firms would not only fail to protect consumers but push them further towards unregulated platforms like offshore sportsbooks and black market activities.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
