According to Spelinspektionen, licensed operators required to register players under the Swedish Gambling Act must use the credentials provided to them by the regulator for accessing Spelpaus.se. In addition, they must use the API that corresponds to the purpose of the check.
Operators Face Clearer Check Requirements
Spelpaus is not only a consumer-facing self-exclusion tool. It is also a compliance system that operators rely on before they allow access to gambling services or handle other regulated customer interactions.
Under the new framework, a check is deemed finished once it has shown whether the person is self-excluded or not. This suggests more clarity for operators on when the responsibility has been fulfilled.
The Importance of the API Detail
The requirement for API access forms the key component of the new guidelines. Earlier consultations had outlined these requirements, noting the use of operator-specific credentials like Actor ID and API Key. The documents also stated that the appropriate API should be used based on the purpose of the control.
API access aims to address the grey zone in daily compliance work. If checks are carried out through the wrong channel, or if delegated checks do not use the licence holder’s assigned details, the register can be weakened even when the operator claims to screen players.
Part of a Broader Responsible Gambling Push
The Spelpaus regulation arrives within the context of a broader wave of regulatory activity in Sweden. Starting from 1 May 2026, Sweden will expand its prohibition on using credit for gambling. It follows the amendments to the Gambling Act that seek to mitigate problems with player debt.
In parallel, Spelinspektionen has launched a review of how operators respond when monthly deposits set by players exceed SEK 10,000. The new Spelpaus rule is narrower than those measures. Its focus is whether operators perform the check in a consistent and traceable way.
What Comes Next
Operators now have until August 2026 to ensure that their internal processes, suppliers, and compliance team have the proper Spelpaus credentials and API routes. Should each check be run correctly and consistently, the rule should make Spelpaus controls easier to enforce in practice.
