What Exactly will be Examined
The Council is set to examine several specific issues. These include loot boxes and their random selection mechanics, social casino games, and esports betting.
The Council is also required to take into account vulnerable groups, particularly young people with certain types of disabilities. The findings of the study will be used to train professionals in social services and healthcare who work with children, adolescents, and their guardians.
Why This Matters
Swedish Health Minister Elisabet Lann said that young people are exposed to gambling mechanics long before they turn 18, largely through video games and other digital products. Finance Minister Niklas Wykman said that protecting young people from gambling addiction and debt is a key part of the government’s work in this area.
Some Numbers
A Spelinspektionen report published in January 2025 focused on young people aged 18 to 24. Of those who bought loot boxes before the age of 15, 87% showed risky gambling behaviour as adults. Of those who made their first loot box purchase before turning 18, 62% had also gambled online for money while still underage. The share of 14 year old males showing signs of risky behaviour rose from 5% in 2021 to 9% in 2025. Among high school-aged males, the figure climbed from 7% to 14% over the same period.
A 2021 study by the Swedish Public Health Agency found that 34% of teenagers aged 16 and 17 had placed a bet in the past 12 months. The number of underage males actively gambling has reached its highest level since records began.
Skin betting also features in the picture. By 2024, it accounted for 41% of all traffic to unlicensed gambling sites in Sweden. Six of the ten most visited unlicensed platforms in the country were skin betting sites.
Youth Debt
According to data from Kronofogden, the Swedish debt collection agency, more than 31,000 young people aged 18-25 have registered debts totaling over 1.9 billion Swedish kronor, which amounts to approximately 160 million euros. Gambling-related debt is one of the factors behind these figures. This was one of the arguments in favor of the law banning gambling on credit.
The Broader Context of the Reforms
The initiative on minors is part of a broader overhaul of Swedish gambling law. From April 1, 2026, Sweden banned gambling with credit. Operators can no longer accept payments made via credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans, or buy-now-pay-later services. Sweden was the first EU country to take this step.
Sweden’s self-exclusion system Spelpaus had around 136,000 users as of March 2026, around 1.6% of the adult population. About half of those registered continue to gamble, mostly through unlicensed operators.
New Head of Spelinspektionen
The Swedish regulator will welcome a new director. Peter Knutsson, who previously worked at the European Commission and the Swedish Advertising Ombudsman, will take up his post in August 2026. His term of office runs until August 31, 2032. Acting Director Johan Röhr said he will prepare a full handover for the incoming director.
