Stockholm, Jan 23: Online casino gambling has become a mainstream activity in Sweden, with nearly one in six adults playing in the past year, but confidence in how the tightly regulated system works is eroding, according to a new market research report by CasinoFeber.
The report found that around 18% of Swedes had played online casino games in the past 12 months, underlining how digital gambling has moved from the margins into everyday life. Despite this widespread participation, more than a third of players said they sometimes or often suspect that game outcomes may be manipulated, even when using Swedish-licensed platforms.
The findings point to a growing trust deficit in a country known for strict gambling regulation and consumer protection. Swedish-licensed casinos are required to meet technical standards intended to ensure fairness and transparency, but repeated losses and a limited understanding of how odds work appear to be undermining confidence.
“The data suggests that mistrust isn’t necessarily driven by evidence, but by experience,” the report said.
Awareness of the licensing system itself also appears limited. Some 65% of online casino players said they did not know how to check whether a site holds a Swedish licence, while 18% admitted to gambling on unlicensed platforms — a significant increase compared with previous years.
Such sites operate outside Sweden’s consumer safeguards, do not offer access to the national Spelpaus self-exclusion system, and may expose players to unexpected tax obligations on winnings, the report said. In practice, regulation often remains invisible at the moment when players decide where to gamble.
Player priorities are also shifting. Fast withdrawals now rank as the most important factor when choosing an online casino, ahead of bonuses, game selection and marketing offers. The emphasis on speed helps explain why offshore casinos continue to attract Swedish players, particularly when licensed platforms are perceived as slow or complex.
Despite its popularity, online gambling remains a largely private activity. The study found that 23% of players do not tell anyone that they gamble online, a pattern seen across both low- and high-spending users. Researchers said such secrecy can make it harder to identify gambling-related problems early and provide support.
Overall, the Swedish online casino market appears mature and stable on paper, but the research highlights underlying vulnerabilities, including mistrust in outcomes, confusion around licensing and a steady flow of players toward unlicensed alternatives.
“If players don’t understand how the system works — or don’t feel it works for them — regulation alone may not be enough to keep them inside it,” the report said.
