Sweden is implementing a full ban on credit card gambling from April 2026, following similar moves in the UK and other regulated markets. Here is what Swedish operators need to prepare for.
Sweden's Gambling Act reforms are set to introduce a complete prohibition on gambling transactions made with credit cards, effective April 2026. The ban is part of a broader package of player protection reforms announced by Sweden's gaming regulator Spelinspektionen.
The move follows the United Kingdom, which banned credit card gambling in April 2020, and Ireland, which has included a credit card ban in its incoming Gambling Regulation Act. The trend toward credit card bans represents a growing consensus among regulators that removing the ability to gamble with borrowed money is a meaningful harm reduction measure.
What the ban covers
The Swedish regulation prohibits licensed operators from accepting gambling deposits made via credit cards. Debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets funded from bank accounts, and other non-credit payment instruments remain permitted. Sweden's BankID system, widely used for identity verification and payments, is unaffected.
Preparing for compliance
Operators targeting Sweden's regulated market must audit their payment processing infrastructure ahead of the April deadline. This includes updating payment gateway configurations to decline credit card transactions, communicating the change to players, and ensuring that affiliated payment providers are fully compliant.
Broader Swedish regulatory picture
Sweden has seen significant regulatory activity in recent years. The Netherlands-style sports sponsorship restrictions and enhanced enforcement powers planned for April 2026 add further compliance obligations for operators active in the Swedish market. Sweden's focus on responsible gaming has also driven adoption of BankID-based player verification as a near-universal standard among licensed operators.
For operators using a modern iGaming platform, these changes can be implemented through payment configuration rather than core technical redevelopment, underscoring the importance of a flexible, modular platform architecture.