Casinos in Sweden

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Introduction

Sweden's casinos are Scandinavian to the core, with a mix of cultural elegance and modern gaming options underpinned by traditional classics. The unique Swedish twist is augmented by the government’s commitment to social responsibility for the benefit of locals and visitors alike. Sweden’s casinos are highly regulated and designed to promote fair gaming in safe and enjoyable environments.

The country’s total land-based industry is small by European standards, but the gaming venues can seem omnipresent since they are mostly located in larger cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg.

The casinos of Sweden somewhat mirror the country as they reflect values like social equity and accountability. Games are accessible to all who can afford a flutter at the tables or the slots in a spirit of responsible gambling. The way people gamble is much the same no matter where you choose to visit in the Western world, so you can expect to find table games like roulette and blackjack alongside cutting-edge slots with the latest bonus mechanics and underlying technology. Gambling occurs in sophisticated settings that bring Swedish hospitality and style to the center of the experience.

In this article, we’ll explore the history of gambling in Sweden, the laws that guide its casino industry, and the most popular casinos in the country.

History of Gambling

Card games and lotteries have been popular among Swedes for centuries. Sweden has always leaned into a conservative stance on gambling, mainly to protect public welfare, a lot like other Scandinavian countries. The government took control of gambling activity in the early 20th century when it introduced a state monopoly to control lotteries and betting. The move was seen as a way to reduce gambling harm and maintain close oversight over a pastime with potential risks to individuals and society as a whole.

The Swedish government allowed four casinos to operate under Casino Cosmopol beginning in 1999. This can be seen as the beginning of the casino industry in Sweden. The casino company is a subsidiary of the state-owned Svenska Spel. Casino Cosmopol was created to establish a controlled and regulated environment for land-based casinos and all profits go into the National Treasury. The first venues opened in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Sundsvall, finally giving Swedes a chance to gamble in well-regulated and sophisticated settings.

Casino Cosmopol has faced strong headwinds over the last few years. Footfall at the venues has declined dramatically. Part of this is seen to be due to the rise of online gambling after the 2019 re-regulation of Sweden's gambling market, followed by the impact of the pandemic. While it didn’t seem likely in a market like Sweden’s, casino closures were in the wind and the first one to come to ground was Sundsvall which closed in 2020. This was followed by Gothenburg and Malmö in early 2024, leaving only Stockholm’s Casino Cosmopol in operation.

In 2024 the Swedish government proposed discontinuing Casino Cosmopol entirely, citing its inability to fulfill its original purpose and ongoing struggles with profitability. Svenska Spel would need to shut down its sole remaining venue in Stockholm by January 1, 2026, impacting approximately 200 jobs if the proposal is approved.

Legislation and Jurisdiction

Sweden’s gambling industry follows strict rules and has historically had very little appetite for deviance, unlike some operators in larger markets who might try to get away with as much as they can and count the penalties as a cost of doing business. The rules are set by the Swedish Gambling Authority, known as Spelinspektionen.

The Swedish Gambling Act took effect in 2019, and it governs all forms of gambling, including land-based casinos, online gaming, and sports betting. The legislation’s mandate that all gambling operations in Sweden be conducted with transparency and responsibility is taken seriously by all stakeholders. Casino Cosmopol holds the exclusive license to operate in Sweden.

Svenska Spel management has acknowledged the financial difficulties of running land-based casinos in the Swedish environment today. CEO Erik Strand commented that the shift from land-based gambling to online platforms was accelerated by the market’s re-regulation and the pandemic, further weakening the sustainability of Casino Cosmopol’s business.

The Swedish Gambling Act also includes measures to address problem gambling like a national self-exclusion program known as Spelpaus. The program allows people to voluntarily block themselves from all licensed gambling in the country. Casinos also have to follow a strict set of advertising guidelines to limit exposure to vulnerable groups, including minors. The Swedish government focuses on responsible gambling and Spelinspektionen’s oversight makes sure that casinos operate within a set of rules that place player welfare in the forefront while ensuring that gambling businesses operate at high standards.

Popular Spots and Games

Sweden’s land-based casino industry was always “small” but the offering was thoughtfully curated to provide a range of high-quality gaming experiences. Casino Cosmopol Stockholm is the last remaining casino in the country and is housed in a historic building near Stockholm’s central station. With table games like blackjack, poker, and roulette along with over 300 slot machines, it still attracts visitors.

At the peak of operations, Casino Cosmopol had four locations across the country. The Gothenburg casino was the second largest and commanded an imposing but welcoming presence along the Göta River’s edge. Poker was an important part of this casino with daily cash games and tournament action bringing big-name events to its 17 tables for players over the age of 20 years. Further south, Casino Cosmopol Malmö offered a kicked-back vibe and brought in visitors from Sweden but Danes were a big part of the footfall too. Sundsvall was the smallest of the casinos but the one most missed by players who “got that feeling” as they climbed the stairs to the Stone City casino.

The winds of change can be felt but sometimes they are more than water’s equal as they erode stone over centuries, sometimes they are only real when the pressure has passed. Either way, the industry in Sweden has changed - perhaps forever. Sundsvall’s casino closed in 2020, followed by Gothenburg and Malmö in early 2024. Now, with the government’s recent proposal to discontinue land-based operations altogether, the Stockholm venue is expected to close by January 1, 2026. But as Stenstaden rose from the ashes, so might one of the most iconic casino industries in history, even without a harbinger.

Conclusion

Sweden’s land casino era was chiseled into history by Casino Cosmopol, and the operations reflected the country’s core values of responsibility and transparency. Things change and people change. Some Swedish authorities are now concerned about a move of player interest to online casinos, especially those not overseen by Spelinspektionen, but other safeguards are in place to protect public welfare. When governments involve themselves in business they need to be aware that player preferences will determine profitability, and in the end, casinos are all about money at that level.

As Casino Cosmopol Stockholm prepares for what at least appears to be its eventual closure, it denotes a moment in time that could well be the end of an era for Swedish land-based gaming. The country’s model of state-owned casinos under stringent regulations left a legacy of controlled, responsible entertainment, but that legacy might not be part of the new reality of online gambling. Only time will tell the full story. For players who had the privilege of playing at any of the Cosmopol venues, those casinos will be remembered for more than “that feeling”, but as a reflection of a unique blend of Swedish style, hospitality, and social accountability in gaming.