Spelinspektionen Ends AML Exemption for Swedish Land-Based Commercial Gaming
TL;DR — Spelinspektionen has ended the AML exemption for land-based gaming in Sweden as of September 1, 2026, after revising its risk assessment upward. Operators of gaming halls and machine venues must apply risk-based customer due diligence, including monitoring, despite no player registration mandate. This precedes the EU AMLR and AMLD6 rollout in July 2027.
SCCG Take — Affected licensees face immediate compliance costs to build monitoring systems calibrated to elevated risk. The move accelerates regulatory convergence with the incoming EU framework, pressing operators to prepare for uniform standards.
Sweden’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has repealed the prior exemption for land-based commercial casino gaming from anti-money laundering rules. Effective September 1, operators must now meet the requirements under an amendment to the regulator’s regulations and general advice (SIFS 2019:2), according to Focus Gaming News.
The change follows an updated risk assessment in which Spelinspektionen determined that the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing in these operations is no longer low. Licensees have been advised to review their operations and implement necessary procedures. After the closure of the last state-controlled Casino Cosmopol venue in April 2025, Sweden has no traditional land-based casinos, but gaming halls and restaurants with gaming machines remain in operation.
Required Controls and Customer Due Diligence
Licensees must adopt a risk-based approach to identify, analyse and assess risks. This includes a general risk assessment, customer knowledge measures, customer risk assessments, procedures and guidelines, staff training, and routines for continual monitoring. Where risks are judged higher, more comprehensive measures are required.
The rules maintain an exemption from mandatory player registration under the Gambling Act. However, sufficient customer due diligence remains mandatory. “The fact that a licensee does not need to register its customers in accordance with the provisions of the Gambling Act therefore does not exclude that the licensee may need to register its customers in another way in order to meet the customer due diligence requirements of the Money Laundering Act,” Spelinspektionen said. One risk is that operators may under-estimate the customer knowledge needed absent formal registration.
Alignment with the Upcoming EU Framework
Spelinspektionen noted ongoing development of a new EU anti-money laundering framework. This includes the AMLR, which becomes directly applicable law in all member states on July 10 2027, coordinated by the new EU authority AMLA. It will be complemented by a new directive (Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive – AMLD6).
The regulator urged licensees to monitor these changes and use its published guidance. “It is important that licensees follow the development of the new regulations and stay updated on upcoming changes, as well as take advantage of the information published on the authority’s website, among other things,” Spelinspektionen said.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Sweden just raised compliance costs for land-based operators ahead of EU harmonization—no more easy pass on AML.
This is the end of Sweden's light-touch era for land-based gaming. We've watched Nordic regulators tighten for years, but Spelinspektionen just flipped risk assessment and made monitoring mandatory for halls and machine operators—even without player registration. It's a preview of the EU AMLR hitting next July, and operators unprepared will scramble.
- AML exemption ends September 1, 2026; gaming halls must deploy risk-based monitoring
- No player registration mandate, but operators must still conduct sufficient customer due diligence
- Move anticipates EU AMLR and AMLD6 taking effect July 2027 across all member states
SCCG angle: SCCG connects Swedish licensees to proven AML tech and compliance advisory partners across our network who've already built these systems in other EU markets. We help you deploy monitoring that scales before the deadline, not after the fine.
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