Betting without a Swedish license has rapidly grown into a massive international platform that offers a wider selection of betting and better odds.
Because of the very strict gambling laws in Sweden, more and more Swedish players are opening their eyes for what the international gambling market offers in terms of bonuses, games and payment methods.
We are going through the pros and cons on betting without a Swedish license, if it’s legal and points to take into consideration for safe betting on international companies.
Betting without a Swedish license is a betting company that has a gambling license from an international Gaming Regulatory Authority, like Malta Gaming Authority or Curacao eGaming.
To choose betting that are not under the Swedish gambling laws and are controlled by Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gaming Regulatory Authority) means more freedom for the players, a wider range of betting and generally also better odds.
For many players from Nordic countries like Sweden that are used to a stricter market, international companies are becoming more of a norm.
But because of less mandatory obligations and limitations, it’s also important to take the risks into consideration and understand the differences between different international gambling regulations and what you need to keep in mind.
Yes, betting without a Swedish license is legal for Swedish players. Keep in mind that all international gambling companies are not open for players from Sweden.
It’s up to the betting company and the Gaming Regulatory Authority that has permitted them a gambling license, to decide of any restrictions and what countries that should have access. The whole selection of sports or casino games might for example not be open to all countries.
UK Gambling Commission is one Gaming Regulatory Authority that has limited access for Swedish players, unless they have a multi license from another authority inside or outside the EU/EES.
No matter what type of gambling you choose to take part in, it’s important to always choose betting that is under control from a Gaming Regulatory Authority. This could either be within or outside EU/EES.
There are differences between betting companies that are licensed within or without Sweden. The strict Swedish gambling law that got enforced 1 january 2019, have shaken up the Swedish gambling market and the restrictions have also made many Swedish players choose betting without Swedish license instead.
Because of the legal differences between the different markets, there are some points you should be aware of to make sure you can play safely. The technical requirements and use of deposit limitations are very different in and outside Sweden.
Gaming Regulatory Authorities also enforce strict requirements for betting companies in terms of technical security, encryption, SSL and licensed payment methods, which combined are enforced to create a safe gambling experience.
When playing on the Swedish gambling market you might be aware of the obligations of using deposit limits. All betting or casino companies with a Swedish gambling license, have a mandatory responsibility to put a system into place where Swedish players have to use deposit limitations.
When registering an account you have to fill in a deposit limit per day, week and month. A player does have the option to increase or decrease their limits. A decrease begins to apply straight away, whilst an increase takes 48 hours before being enforced.
If you move over to betting without a Swedish license, you don’t always have the option to use gambling limits in a lot of cases.
Gaming Regulatory Authorities within the EU do set more requirements, especially in terms of deposit limits that should be offered to players to make it easier for them to hold a budget. It’s up to the player to decide if they would like to use the limits or not when they play on the international market for betting.
Swedish gambling companies have a mandatory obligation to be connected to the Swedish Spelpaus, which is a self exclusion registry that connects all gambling companies with a Swedish license. Spelpaus was introduced on the Swedish market during 2019, and was put into force to make it easier for Swedish players to exclude themselves from playing.
When choosing betting without a Swedish license, you can’t use any self exclusion registry like Spelpaus, and therefore it is more time consuming to exclude yourself from the international market.
You will be required to contact the customer service to block your account during a time period of 1-12 months. If you have a few different accounts it will take a bit more effort to close your accounts.
Bonuses for betting on the international market offer a wider range of exclusive offers and campaigns than Swedish betting companies.
Apart from free bets, risk free games, welcome bonuses for betting and boosted odds, you can also activate generous casino bonuses, Cashback, Reloads and be enrolled into loyalty programs that awards you when playing or betting.
The more generous amount of bonuses abroad are one of many reasons why many Swedish players prefer betting without a Swedish license.
As a player from Sweden there are many benefits of choosing betting without a Swedish license and that are therefore not under restriction from the Swedish Gaming Regulatory Authority.
Some of the reasons for choosing betting without a Swedish license are the following:
Because the international gambling market is very different to the Swedish one, you need to make efforts to choose a betting company that offers high safety and is controlled by a Gaming Regulatory Authority.
We recommend that you base your choice of betting company on the following factors, for a safe and fun experience when choosing betting without a Swedish license.
When comparing betting without a Swedish license, you get offered to register for gambling platforms without a gambling license within the EU/EES. Depending on what kind of experience you’re after, there are pros and cons with both alternatives.
It’s always important to check to make sure the company you choose has an active gambling license. Otherwise you will not be guaranteed safe deposits, withdrawals and that games are accurately represented.
In terms of tax on your winnings, the gambling license will also affect when you have a mandatory obligation to declare your winnings and not to the Swedish Tax Authority.
International betting offers a wider range of payment methods, many who are exclusive to international casino and betting companies.
Because of limitations of the Swedish verification system BankID, many popular payment methods in Sweden like Swish, Zimpler and Trustly can not be used when betting without a Swedish license.
On the upside, you can make deposits and withdrawals with crypto, e-wallets and prepaid cards that can not be used on Swedish betting companies.
Make sure to compare transfer times, currency exchange fees and withdrawal limits when choosing betting outside of Sweden.
Most players are choosing to step away from the Swedish gambling market, because of the strict requirements that Swedish betting companies have to follow. This results in less options and more limitations put on the Swedish players.
But it is also important to be aware of the risks that less or no limitations can involve and it can be harder to set a budget. Before playing, make sure to set a budget and when gambling limits are offered, use them to play within moderation.
Even though there are many benefits of choosing betting without a Swedish license, like a wider range of games, more payment methods to choose from and better betting bonuses, the international market for betting also entails some risks.
Especially as a player from Sweden and where you are used to being able to control your gambling habits with deposit limitations and Spelpaus, it is important for the player to take some extra responsibility to play within reasons. Also avoid betting that is not under the laws from any Gaming Regulatory Authority.
With all this in mind international betting can offer you more freedom and a tailored experience.