Since the radical change in gambling legislation in Sweden and the change in attitude shown toward it, the gambling industry in Sweden has progressed drastically. And esports has not been lagging behind in this booming industry, having its fair share of punters around.
Today, we’re going to be talking about the gambling landscape in Sweden in general. In doing so, we’ll see how the new gambling regulations affected the scene and how esports gambling is quickly turning into an important phenomenon as a result of them.
How Safe is Esports Gambling in Sweden
With the new gambling regulations from 2019 in place, Sweden intended to turn gambling into a more secure and responsible entertainment source for the people and turn the state into a safe space for punters from all spheres.
The new regulations ensure that every operator actively working in Sweden is reliable, and thorough attention is paid when issuing gambling licenses for organizations to make sure of it. There are also sites like NewsBTC where they can find secure and reliable gambling operators by comparing different ones, with or without Spelpaus.
The Current State of Gambling Legislation in Sweden
The Swedish Gambling Act became a reality in 2019. Under the new legislation, gambling operators need a Swedish gambling license issued by the SGA (Swedish Gambling Authority) in order to legally operate. It strictly prohibits aiding or marketing gambling activities without a license. The Swedish Gambling Tax Act (enforced at the same time) puts gambling operators under taxation that goes to the state fund.
The goal of these acts was to increase the amplitude of the gambling market by putting a full stop to the state-run gambling monopolies (like Svenska Spel) and by opening doors to new operators willing to join in, which after more than four years looks like quite a success, as the market looks to be richer, safer, easier, and more responsible than ever before.
Esport and Gambling in Sweden: How Deep is the Bond
According to Statista, the global esports market revenue was around 996 million US dollars in 2020, which is estimated to hit 1866.2 million in 2025, almost doubling in five years. It’s not that hard to see why big casino brands want to join in with the buzz going on in the esports scene.
The ways casino brands are getting involved in esports include sponsoring esports organizations and events, incorporating esports into their systems, making or renovating venues to cater to esports tournaments and other events, etc. This is the case in Sweden as well.
One prime example of this is Svenska Spel, the Swedish state-run lottery operator. They are collaborating with Esportshall, a Swedish esports organization that works as a training facility for new esports gamers, to better develop Swedish esports.
The Most Popular Esports Games in the Swedish Gambling Scene
The esports games that are the most popular among punters in Sweden are mostly the same as those in the rest of the world. Titles like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 see some of the most competitive and intense esports contests, and millions of viewers get up close and personal by betting on them.
How Esports Show Great Promises to the Gambling Industry
- Versatility: Gaming is versatile in the ways you can wager on them. Unlike conventional sports betting, there is a wider array of categories and betting types available in esports betting.
- Bigger potential reach: Some studies show that esports already has more coverage than some of the most popular sports. And as esports events are covered by some of the most available streaming platforms, the coverage is expanding quicker and wider than the coverage of other sports.
- Esports games in casinos: There is still a bit of time left before casinos adopt esports games into their arsenal, but we can already see a shift toward skill-based games in casinos. Casinos and game developers are coming up with games that rely more on skills and less on luck. Also, many of these games are themed like esports games.
The Takeaway
Whether it be for gamblers or a casual audience, esports has infinite potential in Sweden as well as the rest of the world. The current gambling legislation in Sweden has enabled the industry to flourish by promoting healthy gambling practices and providing a safer gambling environment for the people of Sweden. And, as big gambling brands lean toward the world of esports by endorsing, sponsoring, and constantly adapting, the future of esports gambling in Sweden looks to be bustling with success.
