Key Moments:
- Sweden will implement new slot machine rules for hospitality venues effective 1 December 2025.
- Slot machine revenue must never exceed dining income at licensed venues under the updated system.
- A comprehensive ban on gambling with credit is scheduled to take effect on 1 April 2026.
Hospitality Slot Machine Regulations Overhauled
The Swedish Gambling Inspectorate, Spelinspektionen, has announced significant adjustments to the way slot machines operate in settings such as restaurants, bars, and leisure venues. Beginning 1 December 2025, these changes will limit the number of slot machines allowed at each establishment and introduce detailed requirements addressing supervision, placement, and player protection.
To qualify for slot machine placement, restaurants must have an annual food and beverage turnover of at least SEK 1 million (€100,000), with the ability to host additional machines for every additional SEK 250,000 in verified sales. The revised framework further stipulates that slot machine revenue cannot surpass the establishment’s income from food and beverages, cementing gambling as a secondary activity rather than a principal source of revenue.
| Requirement | New Regulation |
|---|---|
| Minimum annual turnover | SEK 1 million (€100,000) |
| Additional machine eligibility | 1 per extra SEK 250,000 in sales |
| Location of machines | Within staff view, inside licensed serving areas, away from ATMs and secluded areas |
| Operation hours | Machines off outside of business hours |
| Revenue from slot machines | Must not exceed dining income |
Responsible Gambling Measures Enhanced
These regulatory updates also cover bingo halls and entertainment venues, limiting slot play strictly to supervised official sessions. Operators are now required to provide transparent player information, including license details, game fees, and access to responsible gambling support such as Stödlinjen, Sweden’s national helpline.
Gaming attendants are to receive comprehensive training on the Gambling Act, player safeguarding procedures, and strategies for early intervention in cases of problem gambling.
Camilla Rosenberg, Director General of Spelinspektionen, commented on these developments as part of a larger objective to harmonize land-based and online gambling standards. The regulator stated:
“These changes clarify the responsibilities of licensees and venues, ensuring slot gaming takes place in safe, supervised, and socially responsible environments.”
Looking Ahead to Sweeping 2026 Reforms
Spelinspektionen has made it clear that the new hospitality rules are a prelude to much larger changes anticipated for 2026. The Swedish government has outlined its intent to update laws to address issues such as illegal gambling, credit-based play, and offshore operators.
In 2026, the Gambling Act will be amended to enable authorities to take action against companies serving Swedish players from abroad. The Ministry of Finance backs the proposal to eliminate the “directional criterion,” which previously restricted enforcement to operators actively targeting Sweden.
Notably, Sweden is set to become the first country in the European Union to implement a complete ban on gambling with credit. Beginning 1 April 2026, operators will be forbidden from accepting any form of credit-based payments, including credit cards, loans, or buy-now-pay-later services, in an effort to combat gambling-related debt and promote responsible behavior.
Johan Röhr, who has been serving as Acting Director General of Spelinspektionen since November 2025, will be overseeing these regulatory transitions.
Transforming Sweden’s Gambling Environment
Sweden is entering a transformative era, seeking to balance player protection with a sustainable gambling industry. The hospitality sector’s new slot machine rules represent only the beginning of ongoing reforms that will redefine the country’s gaming landscape before the next decade arrives.
- Author
Daniel Williams
