Sweden's controversial gambling limits spark industry backlash and enforcement doubts

Why are Sweden's new gambling rules under fire? Critics say the pandemic-era limits are more about politics than player protection—and easy to dodge.

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2026 May 2 . 11:01 AM

1 min read

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Sweden's controversial gambling limits spark industry backlash and enforcement doubts

Sweden’s temporary online gambling restrictions have faced strong criticism since their introduction. Approved in June and enforced from July 2, the measures include a weekly deposit cap of $500 and a bonus limit of SEK100 (around $10). Industry leaders argue the rules are flawed and difficult to enforce. The Swedish government first proposed the restrictions in April and May. Officials claimed the measures would protect players during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside deposit and bonus limits, a time cap on gambling sessions was also suggested.

Morten Ronde, Managing Director of Nordic Gaming, compared Sweden’s approach unfavourably to Denmark’s. He highlighted that the key difference lies in bonus regulations, which are far stricter in Sweden. Fintan Costello, Managing Director of BonusFinder, went further, calling the restrictions a political move rather than a practical solution. Critics argue the rules fail to address real issues. Costello pointed out that players can easily bypass limits by opening multiple accounts or using offshore sites. Even the Swedish Gaming Inspectorate (Spelinspektionen) admitted the deposit caps are unenforceable in practice.

The restrictions remain in place until the end of 2020. However, their effectiveness is in doubt, with both industry experts and regulators questioning their impact. Players still have ways to avoid the limits, leaving the measures with little practical enforcement.