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:

More freedom for players
Better bonuses and offers
Wider range of casino games
Unique sports betting and more odds
Tax free winnings on EU-casinos for EU-members

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:

Strict requirements: More advanced verification of players and technical system that saves deposit history and withdrawals.
Costly licence fee: Casinos have to pay up to 400 000 SEK for a Swedish gambling license. On top of this the casino also has other costs to pay for including verification of technical system, licensed payment methods and administrative costs.
Higher tax: Casinos pay 22% tax on net income, which is a lot higher than other licenses. A MGA-license requires a 5% tax on net income and therefore is a more cost friendly alternative for international casinos.
Bonus limitations: Swedish casinos can only offer a welcome bonus. Cashback and loyalty bonuses are restricted to the international market. Limitations to what bonuses a casino can offer within Sweden, makes it harder for them to compete with established casinos on the market.
Must be linked to Spelpaus: Spelpaus is a Swedish service that links all gaming companies together. When applying for a paus, you get excluded from all gaming companies that have an approved Swedish license. This system creates a safer market and limits gambling addiction.

Mandatory gambling limits: A system has to be put into place that makes it mandatory for players to use deposit limits per day, week and month, as well as time limitations during these time periods. The gambling limits have been put into place to promote responsible playing within the Swedish gambling market.

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.

Malta Gaming Authority: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the biggest Gaming Regulatory Authorities and has strict requirements. Casinos have to offer gambling limits, even though it’s not mandatory for players to use.
Estonian Tax and Customs Board: Estonian Tax and Customs Board started giving out gambling licenses to international casinos 2011. The Gaming Regulatory Authority requires a higher age requirement of 21 years, instead of 18 years that are the limit on other international casinos.
Spillemyndigheden: The Danish Gaming Regulatory Authority that is called Spillemyndigheden is often described as the most safe on the international market. Spillemyndigheden launched its license system 1 September 2000 and is a part of the Danish Customs and Tax Administration.

Spelinspektionen: Spelinspektionen is the Swedish Gaming Regulatory Authority that is controlling casinos with a Swedish license, as well as issuing new licenses to approved gambling companies.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 eGaming: Curacao eGaming is the Gaming Regulatory Authority on the international market with the most approved casinos. This mostly is due to a less strict gambling law and not as many technical requirements that casinos have to fulfil.

Curacao casinos offer a secure gambling experience and also have less restrictions than EU casinos.

UK Gambling Commission: Since Great Britain left the European Union 1 February 2020, EU members have to pay tax on their winnings from UKGC casinos. UK Gambling Commission offers high security and a safe gambling experience due to its strict gambling laws and legal requirements.

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.

Trustly
Swish
Finshark
Brite
Zimpler

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:

Bankcard: Visa and Mastercard are the two biggest methods for card payments with millions of daily users worldwide. Other bank cards that are accepted at international casinos are Revolut, Maestro and American Express.
E-wallets: Make effortless withdrawals or deposits with e-wallets like Skrill, PayPal, Payz, Neteller or AstroPay.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.
Crypto: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin are some popular cryptocurrencies that can be used on online casinos without a Swedish license.

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.

Bank transfer: Krofort is a popular payment method for quicker bank transfer, when making a withdrawal at a casino without a Swedish license.

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.