The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has temporarily revoked Charm Entertainment AB’s license for operating commercial land-based casino gaming, mandating an immediate halt to all licensed operations. This decision, dated October 1, 2026, will remain enforced until a final ruling is made or until April 1, 2027, at the latest.
The regulator initiated its supervisory investigation into Charm Entertainment AB on May 27, 2026, focusing on the company’s adherence to the Swedish Gambling Act, as well as relevant tax, accounting, and bookkeeping regulations. The investigation involved a thorough examination of annual reports submitted by Charm for the years 2023 to 2025, along with materials linked to an ongoing preliminary criminal investigation before the Södertälje District Court.
Reasons for the suspension include the suspicion that Charm no longer meets the statutory requirements necessary for retaining a license. Current and former executives of Charm have been charged with serious offenses such as aggravated accounting crimes related to Lucky 21 Casino AB, a former licensed casino operator. Both entities operate in close proximity and share a significant number of personnel, implying that any illicit activities identified at Lucky 21 could have carried over to Charm’s operations.
The investigation uncovered discrepancies in Charm’s annual accounts, particularly two different filings for the 2023 financial year, raising significant concerns about the integrity of their financial practices.
Spelinspektionen emphasized the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the shared involvement of individuals between Lucky 21 and Charm. In light of the potential for ongoing misconduct, the regulator deemed immediate suspension necessary to prevent further gambling activities that could facilitate criminal behavior or operate under inadequate accounting standards.
While the revocation can be appealed, it is initially set for a duration of six months, with a possible six-month extension under exceptional circumstances. In a related note, Spelinspektionen had previously reversed a fine against the Malta-based online operator LeoVegas in recent months. This fine was imposed for alleged breaches of Sweden’s Gambling Act duty of care provisions. However, the court found the evidence against LeoVegas to be clear-cut, leading to a reversal of the earlier regulatory sanction on June 12, following a meticulous review of the evidence and arguments presented by the operator.
