Plenty of Providers Granted Licences in Sweden

On the 1st of March, 2023, Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gambling authority, started accepting licence applications from companies that provide gambling software to casinos operating in Sweden. From July 1st, 2023, and onwards, holding a gaming software permit will be mandatory in Sweden. The said SGA licence will be valid for 5 years, after which it needs to be renewed.

First to get their licences issued were SkillOnNet, Synot Games, and Programutvecklarna i Norrköping. At that point, Spelinspektionen had received approximately 60 applicants, including Yggdrasil, Relax Gaming, Hacksaw Gaming, and EveryMatrix, all of which would receive their licences just a few days later. 

With Sweden being a lucrative iGaming market, more of the big names followed. The next major licencees were Play’n GO, Thunderkick, and NoLimit city, both reaffirming their goals of being available in all the important jurisdictions. 

Here’s some comments from a few of the new licencees:

Petter Envall, General Counsel and Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Yggdrasil, said: “Remaining compliant in all jurisdictions in which we operate is critical to us and has always been a key priority for Yggdrasil. Sweden is one of our core markets, and the team was fully focused on submitting our application for the new permit as soon as the application process opened. Yggdrasil has a clear regulatory strategy focus and we maintain very close relationships with our locally regulated operators. Yggdrasil encourages other vendors to apply for this licence and I would like to give praise to the Swedish Gambling Authority for a very simple and straightforward process for administrating these permits.”

Wan Kim, Head of Compliance at Thunderkick, said: “We’re really pleased to have been selected for a B2B permit. We look forward to working with the SGA and are thankful to them for a swift and simple process. It’s crucial for us to remain compliant in every market but especially our home one, and we’re excited that we can continue showcasing our games to our fellow Swedes.”

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer for Play’n GO, said: "Sweden is Play’n GO’s home turf. We are most certainly a global company today, with both staff and customers all over the world, but we maintain our firm roots in Sweden to this day. It’s extra special for us to receive one of the first licences from the regulator Spelinspektionen. Of course, we will continue to supply the most exciting and safe casino gaming experience to Swedish players, as we have done for nearly 20 years. Our content today is used by operators in the Swedish market to excite and retain their players. with innovative cross-sell slots like Gerard’s Gambit on the horizon, I don't think the Swedish market has truly seen the full might of Play’n GO yet. We would like to thank Spelinspektionen for the swift granting of our licence so early in the process, allowing us to continue leading from the front in supplying the safest, most entertaining casino experience for players in our home market of Sweden.”

Not all of the major players have released licences, but we expect many more to follow, and we’ll keep you updated on how it develops.  

Background and new rules

Sweden has introduced a new permit requirement for gambling software under its gambling laws. The new permit requirement applies to all companies that provide gambling software or offer technical support related to gambling. The change is intended to improve the regulation of the Swedish gambling market and reduce the risk of unlicensed operators offering illegal gambling services.

The new permit requirement is in addition to the existing licensing requirements for gambling operators in Sweden. The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) will be responsible for processing the permit applications and monitoring compliance with the new requirement. The SGA has stated that it will take a risk-based approach to the assessment of permit applications, focusing on the potential impact of the software on the Swedish gambling market.

The introduction of the new permit requirement is part of a broader reform of Sweden's gambling laws that came into effect in 2019. The aim of the reform is to create a more competitive and sustainable gambling market, while also increasing consumer protection and reducing the risk of problem gambling. The SGA has stated that it will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the new permit requirement, and make further changes if necessary to improve the regulation of the Swedish gambling market.