Licensed gambling operators in Sweden achieved a combined turnover of SEK7.4 billion ($776 million) in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting a 5.1% increase compared to the same quarter in 2025. This data was published by Spelinspektionen, the Swedish gambling regulator, which defines turnover as the total amount staked by players minus the winnings that have been paid out.
The bulk of earnings came from online gaming and sports betting, which contributed SEK4.96 billion, representing a year-over-year rise of just over 7%. State-operated lotteries and slot machines added SEK1.43 billion, remaining stable compared to the second quarter of the previous year. Additionally, games benefiting public purposes, such as lotteries and hall bingo, totaled SEK863 million, while hall bingo maintained a steady turnover of around SEK51 million.
Commercial land-based gaming, primarily through casino venues located within restaurants, reported SEK73 million in turnover, marking a significant 13% increase from SEK64 million in the same quarter last year. However, Svenska Spel's last Casino Cosmopol location was closed down in 2025, resulting in negligible or no turnover for the state-owned operator during this period.
Spelinspektionen's Q2 report also highlighted data about the national self-exclusion system, Spelpaus.se. There was a slight decrease of 0.7% in the number of participants, with just under 138,000 individuals registered as self-excluded by the end of the quarter. In April, Spelinspektionen introduced new regulations to standardize operators' technical connections to Spelpaus, implementing unique IDs and stricter verification measures. This system was established following significant regulatory reforms in 2019 and was scrutinized last year due to claims that it suffered a data breach following a documentary series.
As of April 30, Spelinspektionen reported 2,186 active gambling websites operating without Swedish licenses. Influencers were noted as a major factor in promoting these unlicensed services to Swedish consumers. Earlier reports mentioned that affiliate marketing networks and ‘link farms,’ which directed traffic to unlicensed online casinos, were particularly concerning for the regulator, especially given the involvement of numerous online influencers.
Moreover, channelization for online gambling fell by 1% in 2025 to 84%, a slight decrease from the 2024 figure and a further drop from the 2023 rate of 86%.
