Spelinspektionen runs Spelpaus.se, Sweden’s national gambling self-exclusion system. The regulator designed it to work automatically through e-identification.
That created a problem. Before mid-2024, people without e-ID couldn’t register at all.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report highlighted who got shut out: elderly players, people without internet access, and others who don’t use digital identification. For these groups, there wasn’t any way to self-exclude from gambling sites. The register simply didn’t offer a manual option through Spelinspektionen directly.
Why the Digital-Only Approach Failed Vulnerable Players
Self-exclusion registers exist to protect people with gambling problems. But Spelinspektionen’s system did the opposite for anyone without e-ID.
The regulator wanted full automation. No manual processing, no staff involvement in individual cases. It made administrative sense but ignored real-world barriers.
And these weren’t small numbers. Sweden has significant populations of elderly citizens and people in rural areas with limited digital access. The groups most likely to need protection got locked out of the protection system.
What Happened When Someone Tried Manual Registration
Spelinspektionen started working on fixes in Spring 2024. They recognised the problem.
But implementation didn’t go smoothly. The Ombudsman’s report detailed one case from mid-2024. Someone without e-ID tried to register for Spelpaus.se. It took Spelinspektionen roughly a month to process the request.
A month. For someone asking to be blocked from gambling sites.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman criticized both the delay and the lack of alternatives. The regulator should’ve acted faster and should’ve had backup systems ready before the e-ID requirement went live.
How This Exposes Regulatory Design Problems
The criticism raises questions about how regulators build player protection systems. Automation shouldn’t come before accessibility.
Spelinspektionen isn’t alone in facing these challenges. Other jurisdictions use digital-first approaches too. But Sweden’s case shows what happens when technical efficiency overrides practical access needs.
The regulator recently updated other rules as well. New casino licence advice (SIFS 2025:1) takes effect December 1st, replacing older guidelines. These cover slot machine placement in restaurants and bars, ATM positioning, and earnings thresholds for venues.
But those operational rules matter less if the fundamental protection systems don’t work for everyone who needs them. The Ombudsman’s criticism highlights that regulatory infrastructure needs to serve all players, not just the digitally connected ones.
