Sweden is preparing to rewrite the rules of play. The national gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has unveiled a new regulatory framework that will drastically change how slot machines operate in bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. From 1 December 2025, a stricter system will come into force – limiting the number of permitted machines, introducing tighter supervision rules, and reinforcing player protection standards.
This marks the most significant legislative update since the 2018 Gambling Act, and it represents only the first stage of a broader reform due to take shape in 2026, aimed at reshaping the country’s gaming landscape.
Under the new framework, only restaurants with an annual turnover exceeding one million Swedish kronor – roughly €100,000 – will be allowed to host slot machines. Operators will be able to add one additional machine for every extra SEK 250,000 in verified sales.
A crucial clause stipulates that revenue from gaming must never exceed income from food and beverage sales. The goal is to ensure gambling remains a secondary activity, rather than a primary source of profit.
The rules, set out in Sifs 2025:1, will replace the previous Lifs 2018:9 guidelines, introducing a “modernised” approach to gaming in public venues. Machines must remain visible to staff at all times, located within food-service areas, and switched off outside business hours. Furthermore, they cannot be installed near cash machines or in secluded areas.
The new framework also applies to bingo halls and entertainment centres, where slot machines will only be permitted during official opening hours and under continuous supervision. Operators will be required to provide clear and transparent information to players, including details of licences, game costs, and references to help services such as Stödlinjen, Sweden’s national gambling support helpline.
Another cornerstone of the reform is mandatory staff training. Employees must be well-versed in Swedish gambling law and in procedures to recognise risky or harmful behaviour.
According to Camilla Rosenberg, Director General of Spelinspektionen, the changes “clarify the responsibilities of licence holders and operators, ensuring that gambling takes place in safe, controlled and socially responsible environments.”
The 2025 regulations are just the beginning. The Swedish government has already announced a comprehensive overhaul of the gambling sector for 2026, designed to combat illegal gaming, curb offshore platforms, and eliminate credit-based gambling.
Among the most anticipated measures is the total ban on gambling on credit, due to take effect on 1 April 2026. Operators will no longer be allowed to accept payments via credit cards, personal loans, or “buy now, pay later” services. The objective is to reduce player debt and strengthen consumer protection, a long-standing priority in Swedish social policy.
The reform will be overseen by Johan Röhr, appointed interim Director General of Spelinspektionen in November 2025. His leadership marks a decisive step towards a more transparent and accountable gambling market, aligned with European standards for responsibility and consumer safety.
With these initiatives, Sweden is positioning itself as one of Europe’s most rigorous yet responsible gambling markets. The government’s ambition is to strike a balance between economic sustainability and the protection of vulnerable consumers, ensuring that gambling remains a form of entertainment rather than a social hazard.
The future of Swedish gaming looks set to be more controlled, transparent and player-centred, a transformation that could set a new benchmark across Europe, redefining gambling as a conscious and sustainable form of leisure.
This article was first published in Italian on 11 November 2025.
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