A guide to casinos without Swedish license for international players
Because of the strict gaming laws and restrictions within the Swedish gambling market, there are many Swedish citizens that are choosing a casino without a Swedish license instead.
International casinos offer a wider range of casino games, better bonuses and many exclusive payment methods. The combined benefits contribute to more freedom whilst playing your favourite casino games online.
We have created this guide to give you a better overview of the term casinos without Swedish license and what it means for international players, as well as players from Sweden that want to escape the limitations on the Swedish gambling market.
What does a casino without a Swedish license stand for?
A casino without a Swedish license has a license approved from an international casino Gaming Regulatory Authority instead of Spelinspektionen.
As a player from Sweden the international market is legal and legitimate and offers many benefits, especially in terms of the assortment of casino games to choose from, casino bonuses and a less restrictive market overall that creates more freedom for players.
But with fewer restrictions it’s important to also have an awareness of legal aspects, restrictions and taking measures for responsible gambling.
Benefits with international casinos
Some of the benefits with choosing a casino with an international license outside Sweden are the following:
Are casinos without Swedish licences legal for Swedish players?
Yes, casinos without Swedish licenses are legal for Swedish players. However, it’s important to choose a casino with a license from an international Gaming Regulatory Authority for secure payments and accurate winnings in accordance with the games RTP (Return to player).
It’s also important to know when you’re obliged to pay tax on your winnings. For Swedish players you have to pay tax on winnings from casinos that are regulated outside of the EU/EEA. The same goes for other players from a country within the EU or an EEA-country.
Many casinos choose to not apply for a swedish license
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) and the Gambling Law from 1 January 2019 have created a very restrictive gambling market in Sweden, high and costly requirements and mandatory obligations for players in terms of deposits and time limits.
Because of the strict gambling laws in Sweden, many casinos choose to not apply for a license and therefore are not allowed to advertise their casinos on the Swedish market.
Some requirements for casinos with a Swedish license:
Common international licenses for casinos
The license determines what regulatory requirements a casino has to follow, tax requirements for international players and restrictions.
It’s important to be aware of tax obligations and other legal requirements whilst playing in a casino that’s regulated outside of your own country.
We will go over some common international licenses for casinos, what sets them apart from each other and what it means for international players.
EU-licenses for casinos
For players within the European Union you don’t have to pay any tax on your winnings if you pick a casino that is licensed within EU/EEA.
The Swedish license has been offered since 1 january 2019, when Sweden introduced their gambling license system to create a safer environment for Swedish players.
Gambling licenses outside EU/EEA
For Swedish and international players within EU/EEA you always have to pay tax on winnings from a casino that has a license outside the EU. Swedish players pay 30% tax and for international players various taxes are added depending on your country’s tax laws.
Some of the most common gambling licenses outside EU/EEA are the following:
Curacao casinos offer a secure gambling experience and also have less restrictions than EU casinos.
Gambling tax for international players within EU
Players who live inside the European Union or EEA countries like Belgium, Denmark or Austria dont have to pay any tax on their winnings, when playing in a casino that has a gambling license from a Gaming Regulatory Authority within EU/EEA.
For other international players it is important to be aware of the tax laws in your jurisdiction, legal requirements and the process of declaring your winnings to the Tax Authorities in your country.
Differences from a casino with and without a Swedish license
It’s important to be aware of the potential risks with playing in a casino outside of Sweden, as well as reading up on pros and cons with various different gambling licenses. The main differences from casinos with and without a Swedish license are restrictions, limitations on games and payment methods.
Depending on what legal requirements you have within your jurisdiction, it’s also important to know when you have to pay tax and not.
Here we list some differences from casinos with a Swedish license and a casino that are controlled by an international Gaming Regulatory Authority:
Restrictions and limitations
Swedish casinos have more mandatory obligations in terms of gambling limits (withdrawal and time limits), 3-second rule for slots and RTP requirements. This has resulted in fewer slots, table games and live games to choose from.
Therefore an international casino can offer more options and many exclusive games to choose from.
Pay N Play
Pay N Play with a Swedish license is smoother and does not require you to create an account, like what’s required on a casino without Swedish license.
If you want to make the most of Instant Play a Swedish casino would be the best option, where you can log in with BankID and make instant deposits with Swish or Trustly.
Exclusive payment methods for Swedish casinos
Swedish players are spoiled with the amount of e-wallets that can be used for instant transfers in Swedish casinos.
But because of limitations with BankID abroad, the following payment methods can not be used by Swedish players in international casinos. Some are still legal for players from other countries to use.
Casino bonuses
Because of strict bonus requirements and marketing limitations within Sweden, casinos with a Swedish license can only offer a smaller welcome bonus to new members.
For international casinos you can activate higher welcome bonuses and also be offered Cashback, Reloads and loyalty programs that reward you for choosing to stay active within a certain casino. Because these bonuses can result in more impulsivity while playing, they are not legal in Swedish licensed casinos.
Payment options for casinos without a Swedish license
One benefit with the international gambling market is the amount of payment methods you can choose from. Payments with crypto currencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin or Ethetherum are not legal for casinos with a Swedish license and are therefore only offered by international casinos with a license outside of Sweden.
Here are some popular payment options for deposits and withdrawals on casinos without Swedish license:
Download the app to start using preferred e-wallet and link your debit and credit cards to your account. E-wallets are a good choice for online casinos and offer high security payments thanks to advanced encryption.
Strict requirements on the Swedish market doesn’t make crypto payments legal when making a deposit to a casino. Therefore payments with crypto are restricted to the international gambling market.
Our recommendations for casinos without Swedish license
The international market for casinos is wider and less restrictive in comparison to the Swedish market. Therefore it can be a good choice if you want to play with more freedom, less obligations, and take part in exclusive tournaments and have a wider variety of games to choose from.
Compare different casinos without Swedish licences and pick an option that gives you an enhanced gaming experience and that offers casino bonuses that suit your type of playing.
If you game responsibly, the benefits with a casino outside of Sweden can give you a more personalised gaming experience.
