Sweden to ban credit card gambling by 2026

Nathan’s story is one of many that prompted the UK’s 2020 ban on credit-card-funded gambling.

Now Sweden is following suit, proposing a full ban on credit-based gambling by 1 April 2026, aiming to safeguard vulnerable players and close the loophole that allows borrowed money to fuel betting.

Closing the loophole in Sweden’s Gambling Act

Sweden’s existing Gambling Act already prohibits licensed operators from offering credit to players.

But the law’s narrow focus left glaring gaps. For instance, players could still gamble using credit cards, payday loans, or third-party financing tools, many promoted online or even integrated into gaming platforms.

Under the proposed amendment, all gambling financed by credit will be banned.

Operators and agents would be prohibited from facilitating bets funded by any form of credit or from working with credit providers in connection with online gambling.

What the new rules entail

The updated law will:

• Prohibit credit card transactions for gambling, both online and in retail settings.

• Require operators to block bets if it’s clear the player is using borrowed money.

• Enforce the use of existing technology to detect and block credit-based payments.

• Introduce potential exemptions for charitable or subscription-based lotteries, as long as protections are in place.

Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, will oversee compliance and manage exemption requests.

Of course, these exemptions come at a time when Swedish regulators are already cracking down on charities that flaunt gambling rules, raising questions about how oversight will be applied consistently.

The government says the changes are designed to “reduce the risk of over-indebtedness and protect consumers from ending up in financial difficulties.”

Learning from the UK

The move mirrors the United Kingdom’s own credit card gambling ban, which took effect in April 2020.

Since its introduction, the UK’s Gambling Commission reported a notable drop in players using high-risk borrowing to fund their gambling, particularly among problem gamblers.

The UK’s action became a global benchmark, prompting other regulators to consider similar policies.

Sweden’s decision to follow suit underscores a growing European consensus that gambling on credit poses unacceptable financial and psychological risks.

Reactions from industry stakeholders

While some Swedish operators have voiced concern over the operational impact of the ban, particularly around the need for new transaction filters, most major brands are expected to comply.

Industry insiders note that the government’s requirement to use “simple and cost-effective” tools limits disruption and investment.

Spelinspektionen has welcomed the move.

In its April 2025 report, the regulator urged the government to close legal loopholes and reinforce protections for consumers, especially younger players and those vulnerable to problem gambling.

This message was reinforced after Sweden banned three operators for targeting local players without licences earlier this year.

A safer future for players

A Ministry of Finance spokesperson, on the proposed ban;

This proposal is not about punishing gamblers,it’s about protecting them. No one should gamble with money they don’t have.

As Sweden takes this decisive step, it joins a growing wave of European nations prioritising financial safeguards over gambling revenues, a shift that could mark the beginning of a more humane era for the continent’s gambling policies.