Online Casinos and Sports Betting: The Backbone of the Swedish Market

Sweden's total gambling revenue is growing, but online casino and sports betting are doing the heavy lifting as interest in traditional formats continues to decline.

Sweden's total gambling revenue increased by 0.8% in Q1 2026 to SEK 6.68bn. But strip out online casinos and sports betting, which are the backbone of the market, and almost every other segment is in decline.

The latest figures by the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) clearly show that digital gambling is carrying the entire market in the country.

Gambling stats for Q1 2026

The stats indicate that total revenue for the first three months of the year amounted to SEK 6.68bn (€613m). The SGA says that this is more than what they received for Q1 of 2025, but still less than the last 3 quarters of 2025.

Swedish online gambling market growth — Latest statistics for the Swedish gambling market

The figures reveal that a total of SEK 4.44bn in revenue came from commercial online gaming, which includes Swedish online casinos and sports betting. A figure well above that of any other sector in the market. It was also a 3.4% increase from the previous year.

Despite the increase in online gaming, it was reported that many other areas saw a year-on-year decline. This includes state lottery and slot machine gaming, where revenue went down 3.4% to SEK 1.27bn during the first three months of the year.

For games and lotteries in the ‘public benefit’ sector, there was a revenue decline of 2.6% to SEK 863m. Land-based commercial gaming, such as restaurant casinos, bucked that trend with a modest 3.6% rise to SEK 57m.

As per the previous two quarters, land-based casinos reported no revenue. Casino Cosmopol’s final location closed its doors early in 2025, and that part of the market is now gone.

Swedish gambling market Q1 2026 stats overview:

Total gambling revenue: SEK 6.68bn - 0.8% year-on-year increase
Online gambling: SEK 4.44bn - up 3.4%
State lottery & slot machines: SEK 1.27bn - 3.4% decrease
Public benefit lotteries: SEK 863m - 2.6% decrease
Land-based commercial gaming (restaurant casinos): SEK 57m - 3.6% increase
Land-based casinos: No revenue

Digital convenience and accessibility have been a strong factor in the increase in online gambling revenue. More players prefer online and mobile gambling options within Sweden.

Self-exclusion rates increase

The regulated online gambling market in Sweden launched in January 2019, breaking away from the traditional monopoly model and making room for foreign operators to offer services to Swedish players.

Market oversight is carried out by the SGA, which is in charge of making sure operators are compliant, licensed and have the correct responsible gambling measures in place.

Responsible Gambling & Play Safe — Gamble RESPONSIBLY. At CasinoWow, we're dedicated to responsible gambling and we provide you with many resources to help you play safe.

The SGA doesn’t post stats for the performance of individual operators within the Swedish market. Instead, they publish aggregated market data, giving a complete market overview.

However, the regulator did reveal that there is an increase in players opting for self-exclusion from casinos. By the end of Q1, stats indicate nearly 138,000 people have registered with the Spelpaus.se national self-exclusion scheme. This increase in uptake indicates a 2.6% boost from Q4 of last year.

Possible market challenges

With the decline in traditional formats, we’re seeing a shift in consumer preferences. Traditional formats, such as state lotteries, slots in physical venues, and Casino Cosmopol, are shrinking or gone. Online casinos and sports betting are growing, and the gap is widening.

It appears that going forward, online casinos will remain the most lucrative segment of the industry with strong growth potential, as the market looks increasingly digital-first.

The question for the next quarter is whether online growth can absorb the continued pressure on land-based revenue, and whether SGA will respond to the self-exclusion data by updating the Swedish gambling regulations for licensed operators.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: June 3, 2026

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Online casinos and sports betting: The backbone of the Swedish market

Gambling stats for Q1 2026

Swedish gambling market Q1 2026 stats overview:

Self-exclusion rates increase