Is Online Blackjack Legal in Sweden?
Online blackjack is entirely legal and regulated in Sweden. The country’s 2018 Gambling Act provided the legal framework for online and land-based commercial gambling, as well as lotteries, bingo, sports betting, and other forms of wagering. The country’s market grew to SEK 26 billion in 2021, with over 56% of all Swedes reporting gambling at least once in the past year.
Swedish gambling laws are deemed to be quite strict, even more so than their counterparts in other Scandinavian countries. The regulators justify the law by emphasizing player safety and the prevention of gambling addiction.
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Gambling Laws in Sweden
Until 2019, the gambling market in Sweden was dominated by state-owned companies like Svenska Spel, which effectively had a monopoly over gambling. Then, the Riksdag voted to approve the new Gambling Act in May 2018, which took effect on January 1, 2019.
The move brought not only legal online blackjack but also tons of other online casino games, sports betting, and all other forms of gambling to both the online and offline realms of betting.
Lotteriinspektionen, the agency previously in charge of regulating the market, was rebranded into Spelinspektionen to reflect its newly attributed mandate related to all gambling verticals. The agency has issued licences to over 100 online casinos where you can find online blackjack in all of its forms, both RNG and live dealer. Licensed operators pay an 18% tax on gaming profits, whereas gambling for non-profit purposes is exempt from this tax.
Recently, the Swedish Parliament passed legislation introducing new online gambling supplier licences to the market. In December 2022, Spelinspektionen released information on the B2B licence regime for game suppliers. The application process is expected to kick off on March 1, 2023.
Spelinspektionen will issue up to 70 casino supplier licences to eliminate unlicensed gambling and software and ensure greater safety and fairness of games. We can expect the biggest names in the business, like Evolution and its Live Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and other successful titles, to be among the first to receive the green light from the Swedish regulator.
Finally, the legal gambling age in Sweden is 18, and operators must abide by the Know Your Customer policies and verify the players’ age and other personal information.
Sweden Online Blackjack Bonuses
Online casinos in Sweden run bonus promotions players can use on online blackjack. However, the bonus regime is incredibly limiting. Namely, the Swedish government approved various restrictions in 2020, during the global pandemic, such as the maximum bonus licensed operators can offer. Users could only expect to receive bonuses up to SEK100. Only one-time bonus deals for new players were allowed, leaving regular players without any incentives.
Within the same set of rules, a monthly deposit cap of SEK5,000 was also introduced. Furthermore, players must set time limits for how long they intend to play online casino games, including online blackjack.
Sadly, despite loud opposition from the operators, those restrictions still stand. Further review of the bonus terms is expected during the next legislative season.
Offshore Online Casinos in Sweden
According to the legislation, all casino operators that have site versions in Sweden, accept payments in Swedish krona, or allow Swedes to register online and play are effectively participating in the country’s gambling market and should, therefore, obtain a licence from Spelinspektionen.
Offshore casinos are not permitted to operate in Sweden, and Spelinspektionen has even banned a number of these sites. Still, that doesn’t mean the sites have been shut down since they are licensed in another country, so the Swedish regulatory authorities have no jurisdiction. Instead, the sites are expected to honour the decision from Spelinspektionen and refrain from offering services to Swedes.
Most of these sites continue to accept Swedish players who keep playing there. There are several reasons behind this, including better bonus deals, a greater choice of games including online blackjack, and the ability to use cryptocurrencies to fund their gaming adventures, something that’s off-limits when playing on sites licensed by the local authorities.
Ultimately, no person has ever been prosecuted for playing in offshore online casinos.
Future of Online Blackjack in Sweden
Online blackjack remains one of the most widely played games in Swedish online casinos, and that shouldn’t change in the foreseeable future. In fact, with the state regulator’s intentions of issuing B2B casino supplier licences in 2023, we can safely say that the choice of blackjack games will improve dramatically.
Evolution, Ezugi, and other live dealer game suppliers will surely take advantage of new regulations and enter the market, bringing their marquee blackjack games along for the ride.
Conclusion
Playing online blackjack in certified Swedish online casinos is perfectly legal. However, playing in such casinos entails weekly deposit limits imposed by the government, one-time bonus offers worth just SEK 100, and mandatory self-imposed game time limits. This is where offshore online casinos come into play. Although playing on offshore sites is not technically legal, it’s still a viable option. Sites that accept Swedish players are also licensed in reputable jurisdictions and offer better bonuses, a greater assortment of games, and many other characteristics that give them a slight upper hand over local competitors.
FAQ
Is online blackjack legal in Sweden?
Yes, online blackjack games are legal in Sweden if you play them on state-regulated casino sites.
What is the minimum gambling age in Sweden?
The minimum age for gambling in Sweden is 18. This age requirement applies to all gambling verticals available in the country.
What are the gambling limits for blackjack?
There is no specific gambling limit for blackjack games. Nonetheless, there is a weekly deposit limit set at SEK 5000, and a maximum bonus limit capped at SEK 100.
Can I play online blackjack in offshore casinos?
Yes, you can register in offshore casinos from Sweden and play blackjack there. Note that these sites are not regulated by Spelinspektionen and, as such, need not abide by the local rules and limitations.
