The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has temporarily revoked Charm Entertainment AB’s license to operate land-based casino gaming, mandating an immediate halt to all licensed activities. This decision, issued on October 1, 2026, will remain in effect until a final ruling is reached or until April 1, 2027, at the latest.
Spelinspektionen's investigation into Charm began on May 27, 2026, focusing on the company's adherence to the Swedish Gambling Act and related tax, accounting, and bookkeeping laws. The regulator examined Charm's annual reports from 2023 to 2025 and reviewed information linked to an ongoing criminal investigation currently before Södertälje District Court.
The agency specified multiple grounds for the revocation, citing "probable reasons" to suspect that Charm fails to meet statutory licensing requirements. Serious charges have been leveled against both current and former executives of the company, including aggravated accounting crimes connected to Lucky 21 Casino AB, a previously licensed gaming operator. Notably, both companies operate in close proximity and share much of the same personnel, raising concerns that improper practices from Lucky 21 may have been continued at Charm.
Further examinations uncovered discrepancies in Charm’s financial filings, including the submission of two separate reports for the 2023 financial year, which raised serious questions regarding their bookkeeping compliance.
Spelinspektionen emphasized the gravity of the alleged infractions and the overlap among individuals involved with both Lucky 21 and Charm. Given the potential for ongoing misconduct, the authority determined that an immediate suspension was necessary to curb any gambling activities that could foster criminal activities or operate under inadequate accounting standards.
Although Charm may appeal the decision, the license revocation can remain in effect for six months initially, with an option for a six-month extension under special circumstances.
In recent regulatory history, Spelinspektionen had its financial penalty against Malta-based online operator LeoVegas overturned. This fine was imposed for alleged violations of Sweden's duty of care provisions within its Gambling Act. However, following a thorough review of the evidence and legal arguments, the court found the evidence against LeoVegas to be unambiguous, leading to a total reversal of the initial regulatory sanction on June 12.
