Sweden finally abandons land-based casinos: what will change from 2026

From January 1, 2026, Sweden will fully end licensing for land-based casinos, permanently removing them from the legal market. At the same time, political lotteries will lose exemptions and fall under strict gambling regulations, including restrictions on bonuses and credit use.

This was reported by Spelinspektionen. The state is removing the possibility of licensing physical casinos, meaning no operator will be able to legally offer casino games in land-based venues.

It is noted that this decision confirms the already established fact that the state-owned Casino Cosmopol network, long a symbol of legal gambling in Sweden, completely ceased operations in April 2025. Casino Cosmopol had remained the only legal land-based casino operator in the country and operated under state control.

However, declining attendance, the rise of online gambling, and increased social criticism of gambling led to the decision to gradually wind down operations. Individual locations were closed first, and in spring 2025 the entire network ceased operations.

The cancellation of licenses from 2026 means that the return of land-based casinos in any format is no longer expected. Sweden is effectively betting on the online segment, which remains licensed and strictly regulated, alongside a policy of minimizing gambling harm.

A separate set of changes concerns lotteries associated with political parties. In Sweden, such lotteries have traditionally been used as a tool for party financing and had certain regulatory relaxations. However, from 2026, this approach changes.

Organizers of political lotteries will be required to clearly and transparently indicate which party or affiliated organization is behind the lottery. This information must appear in all advertising, informational, and commercial materials – without exceptions.

Additionally, political lotteries will lose their special status and fall under general gambling regulations. In particular, they will be subject to:

• a ban on using credit for participation in games;
• restrictions or a complete ban on bonuses and incentive offers;
• enhanced oversight by the regulator.

The new requirements will apply to political parties participating or previously participating in parliamentary elections, as well as all related structures and funds. This ensures transparency in political funding and reduces the risk of misuse when gambling is used as a hidden financial instrument.