Survey: 18% of Swedes Played Online Casino Games in 2025

A new survey indicates that online gambling continues to attract a notable share of Sweden’s population, with nearly one in six residents participating in online casino games during 2025.

The research, conducted by Casinofeber, found that 18% of Swedes reported playing online casino games during the year. Participation in sports betting was slightly higher, with about 24% saying they placed bets online over the same period.

The study gathered responses from 3,463 individuals and focused on a subset of 1,004 active iGaming participants. Within that group, 501 respondents completed a casino-focused survey, while 503 took part in a betting-related questionnaire.

Researchers carried out the survey between July 3 and July 17, 2025. The findings provide insight into product preferences, player demographics, and consumer awareness within Sweden’s online gambling market.

Among online casino users, slot games remained the most popular product category. According to the survey results, 49% of casino players said they preferred slot-style games over other online gambling options.

In the sports betting segment, football betting dominated activity. The study found that 63% of those who had placed wagers during the previous year had done so on football matches.

The research also revealed differences between the audiences participating in the two segments. Sports betting attracted a larger share of male participants, who made up 62% of respondents in that category. Online casino gaming showed a more balanced gender distribution, with men accounting for 55% of players.

Participants in both categories tended to fall within similar age ranges. Most reported being in their 30s or 40s, and a majority said they were employed full-time.

Despite steady participation levels, the survey indicated that most players spend relatively small amounts on gambling each month.

Many respondents reported monthly gambling expenses below SEK99, equivalent to just over $10. Another large portion said their spending fell between SEK200 and SEK999, roughly $20 to $110.

Higher spending appeared less common. Only 17% of casino players reported monthly expenditures of SEK1,000 or more. The proportion was even smaller among sports bettors, with 10% indicating that level of spending.

These figures suggest that moderate spending dominates across both casino and betting activities within Sweden’s online gambling environment.

The study also pointed to a gap in player knowledge about licensed gambling platforms.

A significant share of casino players—65%—said they did not know how to determine whether an online operator holds a license from the national regulator. In addition, 18% of respondents acknowledged that they had used gambling websites that operate without Swedish authorization.

These results align with previously reported market data from Spelinspektionen, which estimated that the country’s channelisation rate reached 85% in 2024. The channelisation rate reflects the percentage of gambling activity occurring on licensed platforms rather than unregulated alternatives.

The survey also asked players about their experiences with promotions and withdrawals. About 35% of casino participants said they had used bonus offers. Among those users, 27% reported encountering difficulties, including confusion about terms and challenges when attempting to withdraw winnings.

More than half of respondents described withdrawal procedures as straightforward. However, a noticeable minority said they occasionally or regularly faced complications during the process.

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The survey results come as Sweden continues to adjust its regulatory approach to online gambling.

In late 2025, the Swedish government appointed Erik Eldhagen as state secretary responsible for gambling policy under Financial Markets Minister Niklas Wykman.

The appointment forms part of broader efforts to strengthen oversight of the country’s regulated market while addressing the presence of unlicensed operators.

Authorities are preparing reforms that would expand the scope of Sweden’s gambling legislation to better target offshore operators. Planned changes also include additional consumer protection measures, such as extending the ban on gambling financed through credit. That restriction is scheduled to take effect in April.

Policy discussions have also focused on how regulation and taxation influence the share of players who use licensed operators. Hasse Lord Skarplöth, the outgoing chief executive of AB Trav och Galopp, recently called for Sweden to explore a differentiated tax system.

Skarplöth suggested that horse racing betting could be shielded from potential tax increases under such a model, referencing similar regulatory adjustments introduced in the United Kingdom.

Source:

“Nearly one in six Swedes engaged in iGaming in 2025, survey reveals“, igamingbusiness.com, March 5, 2026.