Swedish Goverment Plan To Expand Gambling Credit Ban

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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

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.