In a move aimed at reinforcing player safeguards and addressing financial risk, the Swedish Government has submitted a proposal to completely outlaw the use of credit in gambling. This new legislative recommendation seeks to replace the current, limited restrictions in the Swedish Gambling Act with a far more comprehensive ban.
Although gambling on credit has technically been restricted under existing Swedish law, current regulations only apply to situations where operators or their agents directly extend credit at the time of purchase. That leaves a legal gap—players are still able to fund their gambling through credit cards or external loans, as long as the financing isn’t offered by the operator.
Proposed Ban to Cover Third-Party Credit and Card Payments
Under the suggested changes, licensed gambling companies and agents would be forbidden from facilitating any gambling activity involving borrowed money. This includes preventing players from entering into credit agreements with outside lenders and ensuring that bets are not accepted if an operator is aware the funds come from credit sources.
One of the most impactful parts of the proposal is the outright ban on payments made via credit cards – both in physical establishments and online—if the credit nature of the transaction can be identified at the time of payment. The government’s aim is to close the remaining avenues through which players might accumulate gambling-related debt.
To support this, gambling operators would also be expected to take reasonable measures to discourage the use of credit. Examples include digital warnings or clear signage in retail settings. The government emphasized that operators won’t be required to buy new hardware but should instead leverage existing systems to block credit card use without disrupting the sale of non-gambling goods.
Consumer Debt and Gambling Risk at the Core
Citing a strong link between problematic gambling behavior and over-indebtedness, the government framed the proposed credit ban as a necessary measure to reduce the risk of financial harm. Despite existing protections, the persistence of credit-fueled betting has prompted regulators to seek stronger and more inclusive restrictions.
According to the official proposal, the goal is to establish a safer gambling environment and limit the possibility for players to fall into debt due to gambling.
Exemptions for Some Lottery Operations
While the proposal outlines a broad prohibition, it does allow the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) to grant exceptions in specific cases. Public-benefit lotteries not affiliated with political parties—such as subscription-based games or supplementary lottery products—could qualify for limited exemptions, provided they implement safeguards to cap credit usage.
Timeline and Context for Reform
If the proposal is adopted, the law would take effect on April 1, 2026. This reform is part of an ongoing effort to tighten gambling oversight in Sweden. In early 2025, BOS (the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling) pushed for legislative updates to address emerging regulatory challenges. Soon after, in April, Spelinspektionen published a report highlighting several legal shortcomings in Sweden’s current online gambling framework.
The new credit ban proposal is the latest step in a coordinated strategy to strengthen consumer protections and modernize the national gambling system.
Source:
Regeringen stärker skyddet för spelare – föreslår nytt förbud mot spel på kredit, regeringen.se, 12 juni 2025
