Where can we bet securely and which are the leading bookmakers in Sweden?
If you are searching for an online bookmaker which accepts players from Sweden, we recommend taking a look on our table below. There you will find some of the best betting sites for Sweden customers.
- Great Sports Betting Coverage
- Secure Deposits and Withdrawals
- Enhanced Player Security
- Various Promotions
- Trusted Online Betting Website
- Licensed by the UKGC
- Best Sports Betting Features
- High Odds
- Trusted online betting site
- Great range of Sports Betting markets
- Top-class Customer service
- Various Payment methods
- Extensive sports catalog
- Separate sections for Virtuals & Horse Racing
- Live Betting & Live Streaming available
- Mobile app for Android & iOS
- 50+ Sports & 4000+ Casino Games
- Mobile Apps for Android & iOS
- Impressive bonus selection, regular missions and tournaments
- On-point Betting Features
- Cash out option is available
- Modern and stylish approach
- Huge selection of games from several providers
- Good range of sports betting options
- Cash out option
- Live streaming services
- Competitive odds
- Lots of amazing features
- Good odds and range of markets
- Excellent casino
Best Betting Sites in Sweden Ranked
- #1 🥇 LeoVegas – Best Overall Betting Site
- #2 🥈 Bet365 – Top In-Play Betting Website
- #3 🥉 William Hill – Top Betting Odds
- #4 🎯 Betsafe – Best Range of Markets Variety
- #5 🎯 Betsson – Top Betting Features
- #6 🎯 Mr Green – Best Online Casino Games
- #7 🎯 Expekt – Top Bonus Offers
- #8 🎯 ComeOn – Best Payment Methods
Introduction
Betting in Sweden is legal in most forms, both online and offline. As the country is a relatively affluent one, the pastime has been enjoyed by several people who can afford to gamble and continue to do so. Although the laws surrounding gambling have been relatively stable, there have been some recent shifts to formally legalize online gambling and to allow licenses to international companies, opening up the market for even more opportunities.
Interesting Facts about Gambling in Sweden
- 66% of Swedes had gambled at least once in the past year
- Despite this relatively high rate of gambling activity, betting in Sweden has dropped 10% in the past few years
- Offline gambling is currently more popular than online gambling, although that could change in the future
- The total annual revenue of the gambling industry was SEK 17.2 billion
- Horse racing, bingo and lotteries are the three most popular forms of gambling
- Online gambling became legal in 2002
Gambling Legislation and LawsTwo main laws comprise gambling legislation in Sweden. The first is the 1994 Lotteries Act, which gave authority to the Gaming Board of Sweden (GBS) to regulate the gambling market and give out licenses to companies that met the requirements. This law meant that lotteries and other gambling activities like bingo, card games and roulette could only be operated by government-approved organizations or charities. This specific law was amended in 2002 to legalize online gambling and allowed the state-run organization Svenska Spel to be the sole online operator. The second piece of legislation was the 1999 Casinos Act. This was specific to casino-style gambling and just regulated that sector a little more by establishing minimum age limits and parameters surrounding the safety of the consumer. |
Top Online Bookmakers in Sweden
There are a number of different highly-reputable online betting sites that offer their services to the Swedish government. Due to the vast number, it can feel overwhelming for new punters to know what sites to gravitate towards. In an attempt to make things slightly more comfortable, here are some of the best sites that are well established in the Swedish market:
Competition between Operators
Sweden has maintained a gambling monopoly since 1934, in an attempt to regulate the market and reduce any negative or illegal activities. However, this has come under pressure over time, and at the beginning of 2019, the government and the GBS agreed to begin giving licenses to international bookmakers. When it comes to the online gambling market, there are now over 60 different operators that are licensed to provide their services to Swedish punters. Despite this, the two government companies that held the monopoly – Svenska Spel and ATG (who provided sports betting and horse race betting respectively) still hold over half of the market. So although there is no longer a legal monopoly, these two brands still have the majority of the power within the market.
Bonuses from Swedish BookmakersBonuses and promotions are a significant aspect of almost all betting sites that operate in Sweden, and punters can receive massive benefits if they choose to opt into these. Almost all betting sites offer some kind of welcome bonus to new customers who register an account. These are often split into welcome sports bonuses and welcome casino bonuses, and punters have the choice of picking the one that correlates to the style of gambling they prefer. Although these welcome bonuses can appear incredibly generous, they often have very high wagering requirements, that can make it difficult actually to withdraw any winnings. Punters should look closely at the terms and conditions of these, to ensure they are getting the best deal. Sites will also offer existing punters bonuses and promotions, in a bid to get them to continue to play. These are often more varied than the welcome bonus and can include improved odds on specific matches, free spins on slots, even unrelated bonuses such as the chance to win free holidays or free cars. |
Betting Features and Options in the Swedish Bookmakers
Because the competition in Sweden is relatively new but full of vendors, they all need the latest features to help them stand out and increase their customer base. Here are some of the features and options offered by a lot of bookmakers, that are designed to make the online betting experience even greater:
Geolocation | |
Live Betting | |
Live Streaming | |
Live Casinos | |
Bet Builders |
Available Payment Methods
Bank cards are the most accepted form of payment in Swedish bookmakers, and punters can use them to deposit and withdraw money instantaneously and for free. Bank transfers are one of the oldest and most reliable forms of payment. However, these often do incur fees and can take a couple of working days to clear. Many gambling sites also accept Trustly, which is a Swedish company. Punters can also use e-wallets like Neteller, and prepaid cards like PaySafe Card, which generally are also free and do not involve any fees.
The currency used in Sweden is the Swedish krona (SEK). While all of the local betting sites and some of the international ones will accept this for betting, there are a number of them that will not allow betting using SEK. Swedes will have to convert their currency before they can place bets. Aside from the fact that this is inconvenient, many online bookmakers charge high conversion fees. Swedish punters should check that the site they are interested accepts SEK, and if not, that the currency conversion fees are not too expensive.
Mobile Betting in Sweden
Mobile betting is becoming increasingly popular, now that smartphones and tablets are everywhere. Almost all betting sites offer free to download apps for Apple and Android devices, making them accessible to everyone. Websites may also separate their casino betting from their sports betting into two separate apps so that the app is targeted to exactly what the user wants. These apps have all of the functions and options of the main desktop site, but now it is even easier to bet wherever you want, whenever you want.
Online Casinos
Online casinos are legal in Sweden and have a strong following in the country. Users can browse a number of different sites that offer card games, roulette, slots, and live casino games. Punters can access online casinos from either betting websites, or from corresponding mobile apps that provide all of the services from the main site.
Leading Sports for Betting in Sweden
Sports betting is one of the leading forms of betting in Sweden, and punters enjoy a range of different types. Most sites offer a number of different sports markets to punters, and here are the most popular:
- Football
Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport globally, and one of the most popular to bet on. The Swedish national football team competes against other European countries in continental tournaments, but punters can also bet on other teams from around the world. Due to the popularity of the sport, there is always a large, diverse market for punters to browse, with local and international betting opportunities. - Ice Hockey
Sweden has the perfect weather for winter sports, especially in the north of the country. This has given ice hockey a strong following, and the country does not do too badly on an international level. Local betting sites offer coverage of the sport, as well as several larger international sites as well. - Handball
Handball is another sport that is popular mostly within Europe, including Sweden. Known as handbollsligan within the country, there are a number of regional games that can be bet on, as well as national ones. - Tennis
Sweden has produced some high-quality tennis players over the years, and the sport remains a favourite for many punters to bet on. While there are options for betting on matches within the country, betting increases around massive international tournaments such as the French and U.S. Opens, as well as Wimbledon.
The Profile of a Swedish Bettor
Betting in Sweden has been around for a long time, and there are clear characteristics of a Swedish bettor. Bettors are more likely to live in urban developments as opposed to rurally – historically this was probably due to the fact that there were more brick and mortar betting establishments in urban areas, but with the advent of online betting, physical location no longer matters. Although bettors are more likely to be men, out of all of the gamblers that are considered to have a gambling problem/addiction, 64% were women.
FAQ
Is online gambling legal in Sweden?
Yes, it is legal for Swedes to partake in online gambling provided that they are using sites that are licensed within the country.
Are there any taxes for Swedish players on their winnings?
If punters bet on an overseas site and win, they are taxed 30%. The exception to this is sports betting, where winnings are not taxed even if it is an international site. But if punters are playing on a local, domestic site, they are not charged any taxes if they win.
Can I open an account and play in SEK?
Yes, most local sites will allow punters to play using the local currency. However, many international sites will not accept SEK, and punters will have to play using a different currency.
Can I still play on a gambling site that does not accept SEK?
Yes, most sites that only accept certain currencies will offer conversion services for punters who use alternative monies. This allows almost everyone to play on the site, but punters should beware that these currency conversions can often be costly.
Which are the best football betting websites in Sweden?
Several football betting websites are available to Swedes that are of high quality. One of the best international sites for Swedish punters is Bet365. They have one of the largest football betting markets, as well as a range of different bet options. The site is available in Swedish, and SEK is an accepted form of betting currency, so users do not need to exchange their money. It is also a reputable site that is known for being reliable, decent odds and excellent customer service.
Is betting on foreign websites safe?
Yes, there are a number of foreign websites that are licensed to offer services to Swedish punters, and these sites are generally safe and reputable to use.
Are there any betting restrictions for players from Sweden?
Because all forms of online gambling are legal in Sweden, there are not really any significant betting restrictions. Punters can choose from a wide variety of betting sites, both local and international, and many that cater to the Swedish population in terms of providing services in the local language, and accepting of SEK.
Our Verdict
Sweden has relatively lenient laws when it comes to gambling and gambling online, to the benefit of punters. Bettors have the opportunity to enjoy all types of gambling and can use sites that are licensed, meaning the user is legally protected in any instances of things like fraud.
Ever since the EU demanded that Sweden offer licenses to international betting sites, the online market has opened up and offered more diversity to punters. This can only be seen as beneficial, because prior to that, customers were legally limited to the two state-operated betting sites, limiting their options. As it currently stands, customers are generally well looked after by the betting market – most (but not all) sites offer their services in Swedish, and punters can rely on market competition to give them high odds, diverse betting opportunities and overall great service.