Swedish prosecutors have brought what could become a landmark case against a well-known influencer from Östergötland, who is accused of having promoted unlicensed casino gambling over several years while also hiding large sums of money from authorities, reported local media SVT Nyheter Öst. The case is the first of its kind in Sweden and lands at a moment when the government is tightening the rules around unlicensed gambling and the financial structures surrounding it.
The man, who is in his mid-30s and based in Linköping, will appear before Linköping District Court after a long investigation by the Swedish Economic Crime Authority. According to SVT Nyheter Öst, he is set to become “the first in the country to be prosecuted for promoting illegal gambling by encouraging online gambling in casinos, without a Swedish license.”
The raids on his home took place last October. SVT reports that “the Swedish Economic Crime Authority conducted a search at the home of the influencer in Linköping. The man, who is in his 35s, was arrested but later released.” He is now charged with a string of serious offences dating back to 2021.
The prosecution claims the activity was not casual or isolated. As prosecutor Hanna Nilsson told SVT in a press release, “This is about serious crime that has taken place systematically.”
The man denies wrongdoing.
This prosecution is not only about the individual defendant. It is also a stress test of how Sweden can enforce its gambling law against public figures who draw large, young audiences online.
SVT previously documented how “several top Swedish influencers on the platform Twitch had advertised online casinos without a Swedish license – in violation of the Gambling Act.” The charged influencer is “one of those who during live broadcasts streamed casino games and encouraged viewers to play.”
The case reaches court at a time when Swedish lawmakers are preparing to toughen the rules even further. A forthcoming reform, due to take effect in 2027 if approved by parliament, would widen the scope of what counts as unlicensed gambling and increase liability for those who facilitate or channel users toward it. The reform follows years of frustration over the size of Sweden’s grey market, which regulators say drains consumer protection and creates fertile ground for tax evasion.
If convicted, the Linköping influencer may become the legal test case that establishes where the boundary now lies between entertainment streaming and commercial gambling promotion.
Three other individuals are also named in the indictment. As SVT reports, “Three more people are charged with business money laundering which is considered a serious crime, according to the indictment, they are said to have helped the influencer hide money from the crimes he is accused of committing.”
The hearing opens on 17 November and is expected to run for seven days.
Sweden has grown increasingly concerned that streaming personalities and digital intermediaries have become a pipeline into unlicensed sites.
The gambling authority has repeatedly stated that it “prioritises measures that help ensure gambling takes place with operators holding a Swedish licence”, part of a drive to push the casino sector toward a 90% “channelisation” rate.
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