Swedish Gambling Revenue Shows Strong Q2 2026 Growth
Sweden's regulated gambling market continues to expand, according to the latest figures from the national regulator, Spelinspektionen. The combined turnover, defined as stakes minus winnings, for all licensed operators hit SEK7.4 billion (€669m) in the second quarter of 2026. This figure represents a healthy 5.1% rise compared to the same period in the previous year, highlighting sustained market health.
The primary engine behind this growth was the online gaming and sports betting sector. This segment alone generated SEK4.96 billion, marking a significant year-on-year increase of over 7%. The performance of the online sector is a key indicator of where the market is heading.
Breakdown of Market Performance
While the online market thrived, other sectors showed more stable results. State-operated lotteries and slot machine games contributed SEK1.43 billion, a figure that showed little change from Q2 2025. Similarly, games for public benefit, such as lotteries and bingo, produced SEK863 million, with bingo remaining steady at SEK51 million.
The land-based commercial sector, which primarily consists of gaming machines in venues like restaurants, saw a notable rise of nearly 13%, generating SEK73 million. However, the traditional land-based casino segment recorded negligible turnover. This is a direct result of Svenska Spel closing its final Casino Cosmopol venue in April 2025, effectively ending an era for physical casinos in the country.
| Sector | Q2 2026 Revenue (SEK) | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Online Gaming & Sports Betting | 4.96 billion | +7% |
| State-Run Lotteries & Slots | 1.43 billion | Stable |
| Public Benefit Games | 863 million | Stable |
| Land-Based Commercial | 73 million | +13% |
| Land-Based Casinos | Negligible | N/A (Closed) |
Regulatory Focus: Spelpaus and Unlicensed Operators
On the regulatory front, the Spelpaus national self-exclusion register experienced a slight dip of 0.7% in registrations from the previous quarter, with just under 138,000 individuals signed up by the end of June. This comes as Spelinspektionen introduced new technical requirements for operators in April. These measures, including unique IDs and stricter verification, aim to fortify the system after it faced scrutiny over an alleged data breach mentioned in a documentary.
The fight against unlicensed gambling sites remains a major challenge. The regulator reported that as of April 30, a total of 2,186 gambling websites without a Swedish license were active. Influencers continue to be a primary channel for promoting these illegal sites to Swedish consumers, with affiliate networks and link farms also identified as significant concerns.
The challenge of the unlicensed market is reflected in the channelisation rate, which measures the percentage of gambling done through licensed operators. This figure for online gambling is estimated to have fallen to 84% in 2025, continuing a gradual decline from 85% in 2024 and 86% in 2023.
British Columbia Deems Prediction Markets Illegal
In a separate international development, the regulatory landscape in Canada has seen a significant clarification. British Columbia’s Independent Gambling Control Office has officially stated that many activities offered by prediction market platforms constitute unregulated gambling and are therefore illegal in the province.
This declaration specifically targets platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, whose products based on sports and entertainment outcomes are now considered illegal gambling under provincial law. This reinforces that the only regulated online platform in British Columbia is PlayNow, operated by the B.C. Lottery Corporation.
The move follows a notice from national bodies, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), which clarified that such event contracts should not be regulated as securities. This prompted the provincial authority to assert its jurisdiction, confirming that these activities fall under gambling laws and could face enforcement action.
