The regulated gambling market in Sweden generated SEK 6.61 billion ($693.4 million) in Q1 2025, according to the latest data by Spelinspektionen, the Swedish Gambling Authority. Top Crypto Casino in Saudi Arabia – BitStarz Ranked #1
The data shows a 0.9% decline from the SEK 6.67 billion the industry generated in Q1 2024.
Alongside the financial results, the regulator announced that 125,000 people were registered with Spelpaus, the national self-exclusion register, a 3.5% increase from the previous quarter.
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- Commercial online gaming and betting: SEK 4.28 billion (0.2 % decline year-over-year)
- State lottery and slot machine games: SEK 1.32 billion (3% decline)
- State casino game (Casino Cosmopol): SEK 26 million (60% decline)
- Games for public benefit, lotteries: SEK 886 million (3.5 % increase)
- Games for public benefit, hall bingo: SEK 49 million (unchanged)
- Land-based commercial gaming (restaurant casino): SEK 52 million (unchanged)
Online gaming and sports betting constituted Sweden’s lion’s share of gambling revenue. However, the segment was nearly flat, suggesting a plateau in the market. The only segment that grew in Q1 was charitable lotteries with a 3.5% increase.
At the same time, the most significant decrease was in the state casino game sector, which consists of the Casino Cosmopol land-based casinos.
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The Casino Cosmopol revenue numbers were unsurprising, given that only one location remained open in Stockholm in Q1. Since the end of the quarter, that location has also closed.
Casino Cosmopol was once one of four casinos operated by Svenska Spel, the former state-run monopoly. The company has closed the other three: Sundsvall, Gothenburg, and Malmö. The latter two closed last year, while the Sundsvall location closed in 2020.
On April 2, the Riksdag (Sweden’s parliament) voted to shut down land-based casino gaming, concluding that it “no longer serves its purpose” amid falling visitor numbers and profitability at Casino Cosmopol.
After the vote, the Stockholm location was to close by February 1, 2026. However, Svenska Spel shut it down shortly after April 20.
It’s important to note that while Casino Cosmopol has shut down, the so-called “restaurant casinos” are still operational and unaffected by the Riksdag decision.
These small “casinos” consist of restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks that hold alcohol permits. They offer a limited casino games and slot machines. Operators in the segment can continue to apply for new licenses.
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Besides the financial results, Spelinspektionen’s Q1 report highlights a growth in the number of self-excluded individuals from gambling.
The 125,000 people with Spelpaus in Q1 were the highest number recorded.
This represented a 3.5% increase from the 120,600 in Q4 2024, which was a 3% increase from Q3 2024. Meanwhile, Q3 2024 saw a growth of 5.9% compared to the previous quarter.
Sweden launched Spelpaus in 2019 when it switched to a multi-license system from a state-run monopoly. The register reached 100,000 users in October 2023.
The consistent increase in individuals who self-exclude supports the regulator’s 2024 annual report, which states that public awareness is growing. According to the report, 65% of Swedish residents are aware of the country’s Spelpaus self-exclusion service.
However, challenges remain. Offshore operators circumvent regulations and offer a way to gamble to those who have self-excluded. A 2023 study found that 49% of those in Sweden have breached their exclusion, and most did so at offshore online casinos.
Spelinspektionen has recognized the threat of illegal operators and recently called for stricter rules on unlicensed operators. The regulator has also used its powers to ban numerous such operators. Most recently, it ordered an immediate ban on Satoshi Gaming Group.